Partner Article

Ethnic minorities still underrepresented in the workplace

Diversity is supposed to be the spice of life.

But according to a census by Creative Skillset, exploring the BAME workforce in the creative media industries, the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) representation in the workplace has decreased from 11,450 in 2009 to 9,511 in 2012, representing 5.4% of the total workforce in 2012 compared to 6.7% in 2009.

Although the overall proportion of BAME representation had fallen in 2012, it had increased in terrestrial TV from 9% in 2009 to 10% in 2012 after Creative Skillset’s work within this sub-sector to encourage ethnic diversity.

The representation of people from a BAME background is highest in commercials production (9.5%), radio (7.6%) and TV (7.5%). But even though it is illegal to discriminate against job applicants because of their race, BAME representation was still well below the average seen across the wider creative media industries in film (4.4%), animation (3.5%), facilities (3.1%), corporate production (1.6%) and VFX (1.0%).

There are variations in BAME representation by occupational group. The highest proportion of the BAME workforce is employed in editorial, journalism and sport (10%), libraries and archives (9.4%), technical development (8.7%), legal (8.3%), content development (7.2%) and make-up and hairdressing (7.1%).

The lowest representation within occupational groups is seen in servicing (2.4%), transport (2.4%), audio/sound/music (2%), animators (2%) and lighting at just 1%.

The variation in geographical representation broadly correlates to the composition of the local labour market and the sectors based there. At 8.9%, London has the highest representation, however, given the high BAME representation in the working population of London (28.8%) it is, in fact the least representative region.

According to The Office of National Statistics (ONS) the unemployment rate was 8% for all people in the UK in October-December 2012. The unemployment rate for people of white ethnic background was 7%, but for other ethnicities, it was higher. For example, for people of black ethnic background, it was 16% (ONS Labour Market Statistics).

The youth unemployment rate among people of black ethnic background was 47%, compared to 29% for young people of Asian ethnic background and 20% for young people of white ethnic background.

Realising the extra difficulties people from a BAME background face; in terms of education and employment, Raphael Mokades in 2005 founded recruitment agency Rare, in order to help ethnic minorities achieve their educational and career goals, and the company now work with over 4,000 clients claiming that, ‘Candidates are 27.5 times more likely to be successful in their applications when applying through Rare’ due to the organisation connecting exceptional people from diverse backgrounds with great careers in top organisations; offering one-on-one guidance, development programmes and 100% free support.

In 2013 Rare won both the Race for Opportunity Future Workforce Award and the Law Society Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award through its collaboration with global law firm Clifford Chance.

The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme also aims to improve social mobility in the legal profession by supporting promising entrants who also face exceptional social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualification. The scheme offers successful applicants financial assistance with Legal Practice Course fees, access to relevant high quality work experience and a professional mentor.

But with only 8% of Public Relations practitioners for example being from a non-white background according to the Public Relations Consultants Association, and figures released earlier this year by New Statesman illuminating the fact that ethnic minorities are still grossly underrepresented, or indeed absent in various positions within the UK press, including not one working in a national newspaper editor, or political editor position, it is undeniable that there is still a long way to go before BAME representation in the workplace has reached the percentage ethnic minority job seekers deserve.

Article written by Amy Tanikie-Montagnani and reproduced from employersjobs.com’s blog.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by employersjobs.com .