Ethnic minorities 'have double poverty rate'

People in minority ethnic communities are being overlooked for jobs and are being paid lower wages, despite improvements in education and qualifications, the study found.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation also highlighted differences between different ethnic minority groups, with 65 per cent of Bangladeshis living in poverty, compared with 55 per cent of Pakistanis, 45 per cent of Black Africans, and 30 per cent of Indians and Black Caribbeans.

A "staggering" 70 per cent of Bangladeshi children are growing up poor, said the report.

Foundation Director Julia Unwin said: "Although the past decade has seen some improvements, there are still some very serious problems which remain unsolved.

"This research shows how policies need to address the different situation of each group, and be followed through on a practical level.

"We need an urgent rethink from government and employers, so that minority ethnic groups do not miss out on opportunities in the workplace and higher educational attainment is properly recognised."

The report said that only 20 per cent of Bangladeshis, 30 per cent of Pakistanis, and 40 per cent of Black Africans of working age are in full-time work, compared to more than 50 per cent of white British people of working age.

"Even with a degree, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men are less likely to be employed than someone white with the same qualifications," said the report.

"Despite a rapid growth in Pakistani and Bangladeshi women going to university, they suffer high unemployment and are much less likely than Indian or white British women to be in professional, or managerial, jobs."

While poverty levels among white British people are the same whether they live in London or elsewhere, rates among minority ethnic groups are far worse for those living in the capital, said the report.

Jenny Watson, chairwoman of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), commented: "This research reinforces the EOC's own investigation, which shows that the talents and skills of young Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are being squandered.

"Despite investing in their education and having the support of their families, women often face outdated stereotypes at work - such as the belief that they will be forced to leave work by their families if they have children.

"These perceptions are entirely at odds with the expectations of young women today. The EOC is urging Britain's employers and policy makers to follow the lead of forward thinking employers who have started to develop cultural intelligence at work, getting the best from all their staff, whatever their background."

Colette Marshall, UK Director of Save the Children, said: "These statistics are shocking and confirm that children from minority ethnic groups face particular barriers. These children are missing the best start in life.

"Poverty must be tackled with greater investment in benefits, more high quality, flexible childcare to help mothers work, decent wages to ensure that work is an effective route out of poverty and targeted investment in education.

"The UK Government has to ensure that adult poverty is not the future for the children in poverty today."

Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform Jim Murphy said: "As the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has acknowledged, the lives of ethnic minority groups have improved over the last decade.

"We have helped an additional quarter of a million people from ethnic minorities move into work over the last few years and the employment rate has risen to 60 per cent in the last three years.

"But we are aware that more needs to be done. The City Strategy programmes, a new partnership between government and providers, will help to tackle worklessness amongst ethnic minority communities.

"The Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force will be proposing new ways of tackling employer discrimination ahead of a ministerial summit early in the summer."