On Thursday 2 November, Stephen chaired a discussion on bridging the employment gap for young Black, Asian, and mixed heritage people. Speakers at the event included the Shadow Minister for Employment Alison McGovern MP, the CEO of Action for Race Equality Jeremy Cooke OBE, and Tammy Fevrier, the Deputy Director for Youth and Skills at the Department for Work and Pensions.
Young Black men, aged between 16 and 24, are three times more likely to be unemployed than their white counterparts, regardless of qualifications. A 2022 Youth Futures Foundation survey found that over a third of ethnic minority young people had experienced discrimination when applying for a job while 55% of Black young people feel employers underestimate their abilities because of their race.
Action for Race Equality used the event to launch its Positive Action Guide for London’s Chief Executives, which gives them clear steps to improve young ethnic minority employment opportunities in their companies. They also revealed key policy asks, including asking the Government to set a national target to close the unemployment disparity between young Black men and their counterparts from other races.
“I am delighted to have chaired such an important conversation,” Stephen said after the event. “It is important that we close the unemployment gap between young people of Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds and their white counterparts. Economic opportunity should be open to all.”
