From the
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
For immediate release: Monday 30
April 2007
Poverty twice as likely for minority ethnic groups:
education fails to close the gap
The poverty rate for Britain’s minority ethnic groups
stands at 40%, double the 20% found amongst white British
people, according to new research published today (30 April)
by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Minority ethnic
groups are also being overlooked for jobs and are being paid
lower wages, despite improvements in education and
qualifications.
The research highlights the differences between minority
ethnic groups with 65% of Bangladeshis living in poverty
compared to 55% of Pakistanis, 45% of Black Africans and 30%
of Indians and Black Caribbeans. Over half of Bangladeshi,
Pakistani and Black African children in the UK are growing
up in poverty with a staggering 70% of Bangladeshi children
growing up poor.
The research shows that people from minority ethnic
groups who have higher educational achievements do not
receive the same rewards as those from white British
backgrounds with similar qualifications. A wide range of
factors are shown to affect different groups and the
research highlights how the Government needs to consider and
implement more targeted policies.
JRF Director Julia Unwin said: “Although the past
decade has seen some improvements, there are still some very
serious problems which remain unsolved. This research shows
how policies need to address the different situation of each
group and be followed through on a practical level. We need
an urgent rethink from Government and employers so that
minority ethnic groups do not miss out on opportunities in
the workplace and higher educational attainment is properly
recognised.”
The reports show that:
- only 20% of Bangladeshis, 30% of Pakistanis and 40% of
Black Africans of working age are in full time work
(compared to over 50% of white British people of working
age);
- even with a degree, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men are
less likely to be employed than someone white with the
same qualifications;
- despite a rapid growth in Pakistani and Bangladeshi
women going to university, they suffer high unemployment
and are much less likely than Indian or white British
women to be in professional or managerial jobs;
- the problem is not confined to first generation
immigrants: British born people from minority ethnic
backgrounds, especially Indian, Black, Pakistani and
Bangladeshi groups are less likely to get jobs than
their white equivalents;
- while poverty levels among white British people are
the same whether they live in London or elsewhere, rates
among minority ethnic groups are far worse for those
living in London.
Part of a major new programme of JRF research looking
into the
links between poverty and ethnicity, these first five
reports look at education, employment and how ill health
affects work opportunities and access to ‘sickness’
benefits. Providing an overview of the situations for
different minority ethnic groups, the research also suggests
possible solutions to address some of the problems.
Notes to Editors:
- The reports, Ethnic
minorities in the labour market: Dynamics and diversity
by Ken Clark and Stephen Drinkwater; The
role of higher education in providing opportunities for
South Asian women by Paul Bagguley and Yasmin
Hussain; Poverty
and ethnicity in the UK by Lucinda Platt; and Long-term
ill health, poverty and ethnicity by Sarah Salway,
Lucinda Platt, Punita Chowbey, Kaveri Harriss and
Elizabeth Bayliss, are published for the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation by The Policy Press. Printed copies are
available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500).
- Poverty
among ethnic groups: How and why does it differ? by
Guy Palmer and Peter Kenway is published by the Joseph
Rowntree Foundation.
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest
social policy research and development charities in the
UK. It supports a research and development programme
that seeks to understand the causes of social
difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
- A JRF event in association with the Runnymede Trust,
Poverty: does ethnicity matter? takes place on 30 April.
The two keynote speakers are Trevor Phillips, Chair of
the Commission for Equality and Human Rights and
Professor Lord (Bhikhu) Parekh, a Trustee of the
Runnymede Trust.
Issued by Nasreen Memon, JRF Head of Media Relations:
01904 615 950 / 020 7278 9665 nasreen.memon@jrf.org.uk
