When a city's government takes steps to increase minority participation in public sector hiring, what type of policy are they implementing?

The city government's actions to increase minority participation in public sector hiring fall under the category of affirmative action. This policy aims to address historical injustices and discrimination by actively seeking to provide equal opportunities in employment for underrepresented groups. Affirmative action involves specific steps or measures, such as outreach, recruitment efforts, or setting goals for minority hiring, to promote diversity and inclusion within the workforce.

There is a distinction here with other options. While equal opportunity generally refers to the legal principle that individuals should have the same chances to compete for employment without discrimination, it does not necessarily include proactive measures to increase representation. A diversity initiative could focus more broadly on promoting a variety of differences within a workforce, whereas affirmative action specifically targets remedying underrepresentation due to past discrimination. A social welfare program typically deals with broader societal support mechanisms rather than employment practices directly related to hiring. Thus, the focus of the city's policy on increasing minority participation aligns perfectly with the defined objectives of affirmative action.