In FY 2009, the number of charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) dropped slightly (2.23 percent), but still held strong.  According to recently released figures, the EEOC reported that it received 93,277 charges for the year ending September 30, 2009.  This is a decrease from the 95,402 received in 2008, but is still the second highest number of charges on record.   The EEOC has been reporting steadily increasing numbers since 2005, with a jump of more than 12,000 charges in 2008.  For FY 2009, he breakdown of charges across the protected categories remained fairly even with previous years, and showed race and retaliation charges leading with 36 percent each.  The number of suits filed by the EEOC during FY 2009 also diminished.  Not surprising, the EEOC filed the most suits under Title VII, and the least under the Equal Pay Act.