BITC responds to the latest unemployment rate for Black, Asian, Mixed Race, and other ethnically diverse people
Today, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a UK labour market update on the unemployment rate by ethnicity between April 2023 and June 2023. The figures show that unemployment has risen over the year for White people from 3.2% to 3.5%. The unemployment rate for Black, Asian, Mixed Race, and other ethnically diverse people is twice as high, at 7.1%, rising from 6.3%. The unemployment rate is particularly high for Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals, at 9.7% and 10.3% respectively.
Sandra Kerr CBE, Race Director at Business in the Community, said:
“The rate of unemployment has risen across a number of ethnic groups compared to this time last year. However, unemployment is disproportionally affecting those from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse backgrounds, with this latest update showing that they are more than twice as likely to be unemployed compared to White people.
“The gap in the unemployment rate between White people and those of a Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse background has widened from 2.5 percentage points in 2020 to 3.6 percentage points. During difficult economic times, inequalities become exacerbated, and the rising number of Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse not in work is a worrying trend. Employers must work to make UK workplaces inclusive and representative of the UK’s diverse population, not only to reduce inequalities but to ensure that they are tapping into this rich pool of talent.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
- All data in this statement was taken from Labour market overview, UK: August 2023. (A09: Labour market status by ethnic group.)
For further information, please contact Aoife Butler Nolan, Head of Media, Public Affairs and Policy on 07702 903 216.