{"id":68359,"date":"2016-03-09T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-09T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=fe49d3e3e3d768fa95d4561451e54cab"},"modified":"2016-03-09T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-09T09:00:00","slug":"press-release-business-secretary-more-must-be-done-to-ensure-bme-workers-get-more-job-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=68359","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Business Secretary: More must be done to ensure BME workers get more job opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Businesses must do more to help BME<\/abbr> workers access the labour market and progress their careers, Business Secretary Sajid Javid said yesterday (8 March 2016) at the first meeting of a new cross-Whitehall Ministerial taskforce when he called on them to engage with Baroness McGregor-Smith\u2019s review into access to the labour market.<\/p>\n

Ministers from across government met to discuss the barriers to progress and agree what more could be done to deliver the PM<\/abbr>\u2019s BME<\/abbr> 2020 vision, which set out a series of targets.<\/p>\n

The meeting came as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP<\/abbr>) released a breakdown of the current scale of the problem faced by those from BME<\/abbr> backgrounds when looking for work. According to latest ONS<\/abbr> statistics, the annual BME<\/abbr> employment rate was 62.7%, almost 13 percentage points lower than the White employment rate of 75.4%. <\/p>\n

Alongside this, the employment rate for people of Pakistani or Bangladeshi ethnic origin was 55% around 20 percentage points lower than the employment rate for people from white ethnic groups \u2013 while it stood at 63.9% for people of Black ethnic origin. DWP<\/abbr> are already looking to tackle BME<\/abbr> unemployment by working with Jobcentres to identify and share best practice in working with BME<\/abbr> groups. <\/p>\n

Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith\u2019s review, the terms of reference for which were published yesterday, specifically focuses on identifying and tackling the obstacles which prevent these groups from succeeding. <\/p>\n

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said:<\/p>\n

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A good deal of work has already been done across government to improve opportunities for people from BME<\/abbr> backgrounds. But while we have seen progress in many areas, these troubling figures highlight just how difficult it can be to find a job if you\u2019re from a minority background.<\/p>\n

This is why I am determined to ensure this new Ministerial Taskforce will drive positive change to support BME<\/abbr> workers to find the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

According to Business in the Community research, 1 in 10 employed people come from a BME<\/abbr> background, yet only 1 in 16 of top management positions and 1 in 13 management positions were held from people from these groups.<\/p>\n

This is despite independent research undertaken by McKinsey showing that companies with the highest rates of ethnic diversity in senior management were 35% more likely to outperform their industry counterparts.<\/p>\n

Employment Minister Priti Patel, said:<\/p>\n

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The UK employment rate for BME<\/abbr> groups is currently the highest since records began 15 years ago. But we know there is more to do which is why this government is committed to increasing the overall BME<\/abbr> employment level and apprenticeship take-up by 20% by 2020.<\/p>\n

This is a challenge that government, business and communities must meet to ensure that every part of Britain can benefit from our growing economy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The terms of reference for Baroness McGregor-Smith\u2019s review, which will specifically look to address these issues, will look at:<\/p>\n