Minority jobless rates 'higher'

Work minister Jane Kennedy said the figures were "shocking"

Ethnic minority workers are twice as likely to be unemployed as the general population, according to new figures.

Ethnic minorities also earned less than white workers, the Government Task Force on ethnic minority employment said in its first annual report.

The ethnic minority employment rate was 59.4% compared with 74.9% for the overall population, the report said.

Work minister Jane Kennedy said the figures were "shocking" and that the government was committed to change.

These statistics are shocking and that is why this cross government taskforce has been created Jane Kennedy

The newly published figures showed a slight increase of 1.4% in ethnic minority employment - largely due to an increase in ethnic minority women finding work.

Average weekly earnings included £376 for white people, £347 for ethnic minorities, £235 for Bangladeshis and £373 for Indians.

The findings were condemned by TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, who said black and Asian people, regardless of background, qualifications or experience were more likely to be unemployed, lower paid and more junior.

He added: "Not only is it wrong, but it is poor business sense. Companies that only recruit from a narrow base are missing out on the wide range of experiences on offer in our many different communities."

Ms Kennedy said: "The employment rate for ethnic minorities is rising but not fast enough.

"That is why a lot more needs to be done to realise the potential of those from an ethnic minority background.

"Ethnic minorities are twice as likely to be unemployed.

"These statistics are shocking and that is why this cross-government taskforce has been created and is committed to bringing about change."

But to achieve that, she said, the support of "employers nationwide" was needed.

There was a need to work together to "ensure nobody is disadvantaged in their career prospects because of their ethnicity."

The task force says one of its key priorities over the next year will be to ensure ethnic minority needs are considered when skills programmes were being drawn up.