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by Matt Trinder
Industrial reporter
UNEMPLOYMENT among young black and minority ethnic (BME) workers has risen by more than twice as much as among their white peers during the pandemic, a new analysis revealed today.
A TUC study of figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the jobless rate for BME 16 to 24-year-olds surged from 18.2 per cent to 27.3 per cent between late 2019 and the end of 2020, a 50 per cent increase.
In the same period, the unemployment rate for white workers in the same age group grew from 10.1 to 12.4 per cent, a rise of 22 per cent.
The analysis, published to coincide with the TUC Young Workers’ Conference held online at the weekend, measured the proportion of young people who want to work who are in employment. It did not include those who are economically inactive, such as students.
The TUC has previously warned that young workers in general have suffered a bigger hit to their job prospects than any other age group, with almost two-thirds of the 700,000 jobs lost during the pandemic being held by workers aged under 25.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said that the figures demonstrated that “racism exists in our workplaces – and in wider society.”
She added: “All our young people need opportunities as they start out on their careers – but they’ve been hit hardest by job losses in the pandemic.
“And some are facing additional obstacles because of their race. That’s wrong.
“Ministers must stop delaying and challenge the racism and inequality that holds back BAME people from such an early age and start creating good new jobs so that all of our young people have a fulfilling future to look forward to.”
TUC young workers’ forum chairman Alex Graham said: “Young workers have experienced first-hand the impact of the pandemic.
“More work is [also] needed to tackle discrimination in the labour market and make racism a thing of the past.”
The TUC demanded that ministers create more opportunities for all young workers by investing in green transport and infrastructure.
The union confederation also said that the government should revamp the Kickstart scheme, which is supposed to help young people find work, and continue the temporary £20 increase in universal credit beyond September to support vulnerable families.
