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TUC: BME workers review must lead to race equality strategy for employment

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, commented on the launch today of a review led by Baroness McGregor-Smith into barriers affecting people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds at work

“This is an important review. The harsh reality is that BME workers are still more likely to be lower paid or unemployed than their white counterparts, regardless of their qualifications and experience.

“The government must use the review as the basis to take genuine action to tackle discrimination. Without progress, millions of BME workers will remain at risk of being held back unfairly, and the economy will miss out on the full contribution of talented people.”

The TUC published analysis in February 2016 on the pay gap for BME workers. It found that BME workers with degrees earn 10.3% less on average than white workers, and BME workers with A-levels earn 17.1% less on average than their white counterparts.

The TUC also published analysis in April 2016 on the employment gap for BME workers. It found that the unemployment rate for white workers with degrees is 2.3%, however for BME graduates this rises to 5.9%. The analysis also found that at every level of educational achievement, jobless rates are much higher for BME workers.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Comparison of UK unemployment rates by ethnicity and qualification, 2015

Qualifications

White workers

BAME workers

 

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate

Multiple of white unemployment

All adults

4.7%

9.5%

2.0

Degrees

2.3%

5.9%

2.5

Diplomas 
and high-level vocational

3.0%

6.8%

2.3

A-level equivalent incl. trade apprenticeships, vocations and NVQ3

4.5%

14.0%

3.1

GCSE equivalentincluding basic vocations

7.1%

17.3%

2.4

Entry-level/basic skills

9.3%

19.8%

2.1

None

7.5%

10.6%

1.4

Source: ONS Labour Force Survey 2015. All qualifications above include equivalent or similar qualifications.

Comparison of gross hourly rates of pay for UK workers by ethnicity and qualification, 2015

 

White workers

BAME workers

Black workers

 

Pay

Pay

Pay gap

Pay

Pay gap

All workers

£13.45

£12.70

5.6%

£11.73

12.8%

Degree

£18.63

£16.70

10.3%

£14.33

23.1%

A-levels

£11.53

£9.55

17.1%

£9.88

14.3%

GCSE

(A* - C equivalent)

£10.33

£8.93

13.6%

£9.15

11.4%

No qualifications

£8.90

£8.25

7.3%

£9.00

-1.1%

Other qualifications

£9.48

£8.88

6.3%

£9.25

2.4%

Source: ONS Labour Force Survey figures from Q4 2014 – Q3 2015

  • All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
  • Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews

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