Poverty and Ethnicity: A review of evidence
| Title | Poverty and Ethnicity: A review of evidence |
| Author(s) | Helen Barnard and Claire Turner |
| Organisation | Joseph Rowntree Foundation |
| Date | 18 May 2011 |
| No. of pages | 21 |
| Key words | Minority ethnic groups; unpaid caring; inequality; further education; apprenticeships; vocational qualifications; progression; local networks; higher education; employer perceptions; poverty |
| Description | The research focused on the three main areas affecting experiences of poverty – education, work and unpaid caring; how social networks and place shape experiences and opportunities; inequality within ethnic minority groups. It identifies key gaps where greater understanding could support more effective action on poverty across different ethnicities. The research also included qualitative research with a number of communities to understand their day-to-day experiences. |
| Select quotations | The linked summary is short enough to consider in its entirety which is advised. The quotation below only concentrates on education, while the report looks at the interaction with education of other factors, such as employment, place and patterns of care within communities. “At the end of compulsory education, young people from minority ethnic groups and those from poorer backgrounds are more likely to attend further education colleges than school sixth forms compared with those from white backgrounds and richer homes. This is significant as it seems to affect not only access to university but also degree attainment and subsequent performance in the labour market. Overall, Pakistani and Bangladeshi young people achieve fewest qualifications between the ages of 16 and 18. There is particularly low take-up of apprenticeships and vocational qualifications by minority ethnic groups, and also poor progression for those who complete such qualifications.” “Minority ethnic groups are generally over-represented in higher education, apart from black Caribbean men. White men from lower socio-economic groups are also under-represented. However, there are important differences in the benefits of degrees once graduates leave university and those tend to work to the disadvantage of people from minority ethnic backgrounds. The institution attended, choice of subject, level of attainment and route into university all influence how valuable a degree is perceived to be by employers.” |
| Link | http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/poverty-and-ethnicity-review-evidence. |
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