Ethnic minority people in jobs in Britain at all-time high: gov't

A record number of people from ethnic minority backgrounds are employed in Britain, figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed Wednesday.

New figures released Wednesday showed that more people from ethnic minority backgrounds are in work than at any time since records began in 2001.

According to new statistics from the DWP, there are now 670,000 more black and minority ethnic (BME) workers in employment in Britain than in 2010, an increase of around 24 percent.

Of the ethnic minority population aged 16 to 24 years, 62 percent were in full-time education or work in 2015, compared to 43.4 percent of all 16 to 24 year olds.

The DWP said women have played a role in the increase with figures showing 109,000 more women from an ethnic minority are in employment since 2014.

Employment Minister Priti Patel said: "It is fantastic news that the employment rate for BME groups is now at its highest since records began in 2001. We are determined to build on this success to increase BME employment and apprenticeship take-up by 20 percent by 2020.

The latest BME employment statistics showed that the ethnic minority employment rate in 2015 was 62.8 percent, up 3.2 percentage points from 2010.

The ethnic minority unemployment rate in 2015 was 9.9 percent, down 3.2 percentage points since 2010.

The DWP said: "The challenge of increasing BME employment is critical to achieving full employment, helping people achieve their aspirations, and ensuring that British business makes the most of the talent and potential that exists in all communities across Great Britain." Endit