BAME progress stalled


Black and minority ethnic (BAME) employees are more likely than white employees to say career progression is important to them. But they are twice as likely as white employees to say that discrimination has impeded that progression.


These findings come from Addressing the barriers to BAME employee career progression to the top, a survey of over 1,200 employees by HR professionals’ body CIPD. 


This found that 20% of BAME employees felt that discrimination has played a part in their lack of career progression, compared with 11% of white British employees.


The figure was even higher for black employees in particular, of whom almost one in three (29%) felt discrimination has hindered their progression. 


Meanwhile four in 10 BAME employees said career progression was an important part of their working life compared with just one in 10 of those from a British white background. But significantly more BAME employees overall than white British employees said their career to date has failed to meet their expectations (40% versus 31%).


The report investigates in some detail what could be the obstacles to progression for BAME staff. 


Dr Jill Miller, diversity and inclusion adviser at the CIPD, said that “different minority ethnic groups are facing different obstacles and … many of us have multiple and overlapping social identities, so it’s important not to assume that one solution will remove progression barriers for all”.

https://www.cipd.co.uk/Images/addressing-the-barriers-to-BAME-employee-career-progression-to-the-top_tcm18-33336.pdf