Let’s start with the positives
Fortunately for WISE and other organisations in the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) space, attitudes towards minorities and under-represented groups in the workplace and society are changing. This makes implementing EDI initiatives less onerous for progressive employers.
According to the below 2019 Ipsos Mori poll, people are more optimistic that Britain will be a more diverse and tolerant place in 10 years’ time. An increased majority of people claim they would be happy for their child to marry someone from another ethnic group and 45% of those asked felt that the UK was more racially tolerant than it was a decade ago.
However, there are still problems…
WISE exists because there are still problems regarding the employment and progression of people from under-represented groups in STEM roles and the wider workforce. Sadly, the following statements continue to be true:
- A person from an ethnic minority background is less likely to find work than a white person (10.7%)
- A considerable number of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) workers have been racially harassed at work in the last five years (70%).
- Minority ethnic applicants complete far more job applications than white people before they get an interview (approximately 60%).
- Women still earn considerably less per hour than men (18.4% less).
- Of the 7.9 million people of working age with disabilities almost half are out of work (46.8%).
https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/attitudes-race-and-inequality-great-britain