Hot on the heels of the Equalities Review comes research from the Department for Work and Pensions confirming that people from ethnic minorities – particularly Muslim woman – continue to face employment gaps.
The research, Persistent Employment Disadvantage, analyses the probability of being in employment based on different combinations of ethnic and religious group. The report finds that for women, the employment penalties faced by Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds are higher than the penalty for any ethnic group of no religion.
Secretary of state for work and pensions John Hutton said: “We simply cannot afford to ignore the specific discrimination that exists in the UK labour market.
“Increasingly, we must focus on the most disadvantaged by rewarding private and voluntary sector providers based on their success in supporting the hardest to help back to work
“This funding won’t just be for overcoming the barriers to finding work – but rather overcoming the barriers to staying in work and progressing within the workplace too.”
He added that supporting community groups would run alongside improvements and training.
Equal Opportunities Commission chairman Jenny Watson said: “John Hutton is right to argue that it’s time for a new approach. He correctly points out that old stereotypes no longer apply, and we need to identify and address the real reasons why ethnic minority women who want to work find it difficult to get jobs, and why they fail to progress.
“Our own ongoing investigation has shown that young Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean girls are doing their part, forging ahead at school with great ambitions for their future. What’s more, they have the full support of their families.
“I hope the results of the EOC’s final report – to be released later this month – will help point the way forward. Not only will this ambitious generation of young women benefit from change, we all will. The economic and social costs of inaction are far too high.”
