Ethnic minorities hit hardest by rising unemployment in the UK

Published on Thursday 31 December 2009 21:42

PEOPLE from ethnic minorities have seen a "marked" increase in joblessness since the recession started in 2008, reaching more than 20 per cent among some groups, according to research.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said members of the UK's Caribbean and African community have seen jobless rates increase from 13.2 per cent to 20.1 per cent this year, at a time when white unemployment increased from 4.8 per cent to 7.6 per cent.

The trend has become more marked in the past six months, while young people and men have been hit by large rises in unemployment, according to the study.

Women are entering part-time work in large numbers, with the total increasing by 123,000 in recent months, said the report.

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the commission, said the data "suggests a significant deterioration in employment for those from ethnic minority groups, which risks undoing much of the progress made over the last few years."

He added: "The figures also show that the employment outcomes of younger people remain a particular problem. The adverse economic and social impacts of widespread youth unemployment can leave scars which will take many years to heal.

"When the economy returns to growth, the challenge will be to ensure that no talent is constrained for arbitrary reasons, or needless barriers – something which is within the power of a 21st century society to overcome."

A separate study showed that young people without a university education, and low-skilled young women, have been among those worst hit by the recession.