LONDON (AA) – Young black people and Asian Muslims in Britain are more likely to be unemployed, despite their success in school, according to a new study by the government’s Social Mobility Commission (SMC).
“Young people from black and Asian Muslims communities are more likely to be unemployed and face social immobility later in life than working-class white boys despite doing better at school,” said a report by the SMC, an advisory body.
Analyzing the effect gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status have on life chances in the education system and labor market, the report found “stark differences” between the chances of white Britons and ethnic minorities in the country.
About the findings, commission Chair Alan Milburn said Britain was a long way to achieve “a level playing field of opportunity for all.”
“It is deeply concerning that poor white British boys are doing so badly in education, from the early years through to university. Yet they are less likely to be unemployed and face social immobility,” Milburn said.
The research argued that factors such as geography, discrimination, and cultural expectations may explain why some ethnic groups, particularly Asian Muslim women, do not do well in the labor market “despite performing highly at school and university.”
In the report, the SMC urged schools, universities, and employers to provide targeted support to ensure Muslim women are able to achieve their career ambitions and progress in the workplace.
