Jobless rate among ethnic minorities is 'shocking', says Kennedy

A year after the government created its Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force, statistics published today have revealed that ethnic minorities are now twice as likely to be unemployed, and that the jobless rate is steadily rising.

Minister for Work Jane Kennedy described the latest statistics as "shocking" and pledged to forge ahead with plans to reverse the trend.

The task force was set up by the Prime Minister to deliver the first ever cross-government ethnic minority employment strategy, tackling issues such as lack of access to guidance and advice on training and employment, under-attainment at school and discrimination.

But on this the first anniversary of the initiative's set up, the employment rate for ethnic minorities is currently 59.4%, compared to 74.9% for the overall population – ethnic minorities also earn less than their white counterparts.

Ms Kennedy, who chairs the task force, said that although a lot of work had already been done, there was still more to do to realise the potential of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

She added: "Now all government departments and employers need to forge ahead and work together to ensure nobody is disadvantaged in their career prospects because of their ethnicity."

The government said that its New Deal, which has helped more than 125,000 ethnic minority people into work, and ethnic minority outreach work with community organisations had made in roads into the issue.

Over the next year, the task force will attempt to find ways of reaching people who are inactive in the labour market, and encourage businesses to take a leadership role.

(gmcg/sp)