The number of employees in the HR department is ______% less than the number…

Concept

When one quantity is compared as a percentage less than another, the second quantity is the reference base.

Percentage less = (difference ÷ reference quantity) × 100.

Application

1. Let the total number of employees be T. Then HR employees = 0.12T and Production employees = 0.32T.

2. Difference = 0.32T − 0.12T = 0.20T.

3. Taking Production as the reference, percentage less = (0.20T ÷ 0.32T) × 100 = 62.5%.

Cross-check

If the Production count is treated as 100, the HR count is (12 ÷ 32) × 100 = 37.5. Thus HR is 100 − 37.5 = 62.5% less.

Therefore, the required percentage is 62.5%.