Government figures for London show the number of JSA claimants in London from an ethnic minority background was 110,150 in May 2011. This is up from 100,705 in the previous period (January 2011), an increase of 9.4 per cent.

The total number of JSA claimants in London was 224,930. This is up from 213,770 in the previous period (January 2011), an increase of 5.2 per cent.

The proportion of JSA claimants in London who are ethnic minority has increased from 47.1 per cent in January 2011 to 49.0 per cent in May 2011. In five London boroughs over 60 per cent of all JSA claimants are ethnic minorities: Newham (67.5%), Brent (67.0%), Tower Hamlets (63.5%) and Harrow (60.1%). Less than one third (30.8%) of London’s working age population is ethnic minority.

Jeremy Crook OBE, Director of BTEG, said:

“These figures are shocking and show the impact that the cuts in the public sector are now having on ethnic minorities. Mainly as a result of equality laws the public sector employed more people from Black communities. The question now is will the private sector rise to the diversity challenge facing London and employ ethnic minorities that have been pushed out of the public sector? These figures suggest that we are not all in this together.”

“London already has high levels of youth unemployment and now we are seeing disproportionate numbers of ethnic minority job seekers. This should be a wake up call to the Government, the Mayor, local council leaders and businesses. Urgent action is needed to target ethnic minority job seekers and help them to compete for jobs in the private sector. There are still companies and sectors in London where you see virtually no ethnic minority employees. It is time for this to change. And there needs to be greater focus and commitment on helping skilled and experienced former public sector workers and young people to start their own businesses.”

End.

Notes

1.BTEG is a London based national charity which was set up in 1991 by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BME) voluntary and community organisations. The charity works tirelessly to support local BAME organisations that help people into work and advises government departments.

BTEG is supported by Trust for London, City Bridge Trust, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Ministry of Justice.

2. According to the most recent figures from the Annual Population Survey (October 2008 to September 2009) 42.2 per cent of the black people in employment in Great Britain are employed in public administration, education and health. But only 29.5 per cent of white people in employment are employed in these sectors. The figures for other ethnic groups (% of those aged 16+ in employment who are employed in public administration, education and health) are:

White                                      29.5%

Mixed                                      30.0%

Indian                                      28.6%

Pakistani/Bangladeshi         21.3%

Black/Black British                42.2%

Other ethnic groups               28.7%

(Figures are from the Annual Population Survey for the period October 2008 to September 2009)

3. Jeremy Crook, Executive Director of BTEG is a member the Department for Work and Pensions’ Ethnic Minority Advisory Group, which advises Ministers.

Contact: Jeremy Crook, Director, Black Training and Enterprise Group

Address: Lancaster House, 31-33 Islington High Street, London N1 9LH

Tel: 020 7843 6110

Mobile: 07766114877

Registered charity No: 1056043