Diversity in universities 


University employers need to “get their houses in order” and do more to make sure the higher education workforce properly reflects society, said public services union UNISON.


The call comes after the latest workforce figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that there is still a smaller proportion of black people working in universities than there are in the general population. And black people who do work in higher education tend to be clustered in low-paid jobs.


The figures show that just over 6% of almost 11,000 staff in the highest non-academic roles are black. The proportions increase as you move down the pay scale. A little more than 14% of people in the lowest-paid jobs – what the HESA calls “elementary occupations” – are black.


UNISON is urging higher education employers, unions, funding councils, students and others to jointly tackle the issue, including bringing in changes through the Higher Education and Research Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords.

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/02/he-workforce