Employment
In 2008 the employment rate for ethnic minorities was 60.9% (Scotland employment rate 75.6%). There is variation in the employment rate of ethnic minorities across Scotland, ranging from 85.3% in Ayrshire to 51% in Glasgow city (source annual population survey Jan – Dec 2008).
In 2008 37% of minority ethnic people who were employed worked in Distribution, Hotels and Restaurants compared to only 18% of the white population (Source: Annual Population survey Jan-Dec 2008). The attached table shows the broad occupational breakdown of employment and ethnicity for 2008:
Proportion of total White and Minority Ethnic people employed in each occupational group, Scotland 2008
|
Occupation |
White (%) |
Minority Ethnic (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Managers and senior officials |
13.1 |
12.1 |
|
Professional occupations |
12.8 |
18.3 |
|
Associate professional and technical |
14.8 |
18.3 |
|
Administrative and secretarial |
11.6 |
7.8 |
|
Skilled trades occupations |
11.7 |
10.8 |
|
Personal service occupations |
9.0 |
* |
|
Sales and customer service occupations |
8.1 |
11.9 |
|
Process, plant and machine operatives |
7.6 |
* |
|
Elementary occupations |
11.3 |
11.9 |
|
All |
100 |
100 |
Source: Annual Population Survey Jan-Dec 2008
* Estimate is below reliability threshold
‘Due to the small number of ethnic minorities in the Annual Population Survey sample, there are large confidence intervals around the estimates for ethnic minorities. As a result, differences between white and ethnic minority populations may not be statistically significant.’
Minority Ethnic Enterprise The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway welcomed the publication of the 'Minority Ethnic Enterprise in Scotland: a National Scoping Study' research report on 21 June 2005. This is the first systematic study on the distinctive nature and importance of minority ethnic businesses in Scotland.
The report highlights the strong talent and diverse expertise and experience of minority ethnic businesses, and their contribution to the wider Scottish business sector. It is clear that such diversity and talent deserves promotion and recognition, and this is a key area which our organisations want to take forward, in association with the minority ethnic business communities themselves.
- Read the Report: Minority Ethnic Enterprise in Scotland: A National Scoping Study (link opens in a new window)
- Read the Report: Supporting Minority Ethnic Businesses (link opens in a new window)
Labour market information is also available from the 2001 Census. Although the Labour Force Survey is the official source of labour market information, Census data is also useful as it allows comparisons to be made across ethnic minority groups.
The Census shows that 70% of White Scottish people were in employment. In comparison, less than half of Other South Asians (46%), Pakistanis (47%) and Bangladeshis (49%) were in employment. (Source: 2001 Census – link opens in a new window)
Unemployment rates are also considerably higher for the non-white population. Those groups experiencing the highest rates of unemployment are the Africans (15%), Black Scottish (15%) and Other South Asians (14%). This compares to an unemployment rate of 7% for the White Scottish population. (Source: 2001 Census – link opens in a new window)
The Pakistani (32%), Chinese (23%) and Indian (22%) ethnic groups are most likely to be self-employed. In contrast, only 11% of White Scottish people are self-employed. (Source: 2001 Census – link opens in a new window)