11 May 2006 - Publication of DWP research reports 333 and 341: Ethnic minority populations and the labour market: an analysis of the 1991 and 2001 census & Ethnic penalties in the labour market: employers and discrimination
Two studies published today by the Department for Work and Pensions constitute the largest examination of the employment penalties faced by ethnic minorities in the labour market and their geographical variation.
The studies measure the extent to which ethnic minorities are less likely to have a job than whites, after taking account of other factors in particular educational qualifications.
The ethnic penalties report presents the findings of a statistical analysis of large data sets including the Labour Force Survey, General Household Survey, the British Social Attitudes Survey, the 2001 Census Sample of Anonymised Records (SARs) and the Home Office Citizenship Survey. The work was undertaken by academics from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University.
The Census publication provides an analysis of inequalities in the national and local labour markets between ethnic groups, using the 1991 and 2001 Census. It traces the impact of social and human capital, improvements over time, generational contrasts, and the geography of disadvantage. The work was undertaken by researchers from Manchester and Sheffield Universities.
Significant findings from the 2001 Census analysis are:
- Overall findings indicate that the Department is correct to focus on ethnic minority employment issues.
- Qualifications have improved for ethnic minorities and this greatly increases the chance of being employed.
- Despite the improvement in some labour market circumstances the 2001 Census confirms that disadvantage persists for all ethnic minorities.
Significant findings from the ethnic penalties analysis are:
- Overall many ethnic minority groups continue to have higher unemployment rates, greater concentrations in routine and semi-routine work and lower hourly earnings than whites. The patterns for women are broadly similar to those for men, although ethnic minority women tend not to be as disadvantaged relative to the whites.
- These differentials cannot be explained by the age, education or foreign birth of ethnic minority groups. Having taken account of education and other factors the ‘first generation’ who were born overseas experience even greater ethnic penalties than the ‘second generation’ who were born and educated in Britain but the generational difference is not great. The ethnic penalties for Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men in gaining employment have not shown any sizable decline over three decades.
- The ethnic composition of the public sector differs markedly from that of the private sector, with ethnic minorities more likely to work in the public sector. There was no tendency for equal treatment to be more prevalent in larger establishments.
- Self-reported prejudice on the part of white men and women displays a modest longer-term decline, but there are substantial year-to-year fluctuations. Levels of self-reported prejudice by white employers and managers are found to be significantly lower in the public administration, education and health sectors and are significantly higher in sectors such as manufacturing and construction.
Notes to Editors
- The research ‘Ethnic minority populations and the labour market: an analysis of the 1991 and 2001 Census’ was conducted by Ludi Simpson, Kingsley Purdam, Abdelouahid Tajar, Ed Fieldhouse, Vasilis Gavalas, Mark Tranmer from Manchester University and John Pritchard and Danny Dorling from Sheffield University. The research ‘Ethnic Penalties in the Labour Market: Employers and Discrimination was conducted by Anthony Heath and Sin Yi Cheung.
- Research reports 333 ‘Ethnic minority populations and the labour market: an analysis of the1991 and 2001 Census’ and 341 ‘Ethnic penalties in the labour market: employers and discrimination’ are published on 11th May 2006. The reports are available on the DWP website and hard copies can be obtained from Paul Noakes, Room 4-26, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.
DWP Press office: 020 7238 0751
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Website: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5
Prepared by: Department for Work and Pensions Ethnic Minority Employment Division