New research shows that all ethnic minority groups are substantially less likely than white British people to receive a positive call-back when applying for a job. However, the various groups face different levels of success in getting jobs, which may be down to better qualifications – but might also reflect higher aspirations, their parents’ support and resources, or a stronger sense of community in their ethnic group.
The research combined results from two field experiments with data on ethnic ‘penalties’ in employment from the UK Labour Force Survey and Understanding Society.
The results show
- some minorities face relatively severe hiring discrimination and high employment penalties: black African, Pakistani/Bangladeshi, Middle Eastern and North African, and black Caribbean
- some face lower hiring discrimination and low employment penalties: white western minorities, and – in one of the experiments – Asian minorities
- some groups face lower employment penalties than would be expected given the level of hiring discrimination they face: Chinese and Indian minorities in one experiment, and Eastern European minorities in the other.
The researchers – Wouter Zwysen, Valentina Di Stasio, and Anthony Heath – say that, to get a full understanding of the problems ethnic minorities face in the labour market, it is important to consider data on outcomes as well as on discrimination.
They suggest that groups which show more resilience to hiring discrimination may be benefitting from something the experiments don’t show – such as higher aspirations, more parental support and resources, and a stronger community network. It may also be that minorities react to (perceived) discrimination by avoiding discriminatory employers – perhaps by being self-employed.
EmploymentEthnicity and immigration
