Bangladeshis and Pakistanis face double disadvantage

Racial inequality has many guises but the perhaps one if its most debilitating dynamics is deprivation. A recent study by the University of Manchester and the Runnymede Trust found that one in three Bangladeshis and a third of Pakistanis in England and Wales live in deprived neighbourhoods.

The research found for example that unemployment in those deprived neighbourhoods and other areas were double that of white groups, suggesting that these BME groups face it tougher than their white counterparts both in deprived and non-deprived areas.

Dr Stephen Jivraj, from Manchester University stated that:

Our research shows that the Bangladeshi ethnic group was the most likely to live in deprived neighbourhoods because of low income in 46% of cases and barriers to housing and services in 32% .

The labour market inequalities are compounded by disadvantage in education, health and housing. The concentration of ethnic minorities in the poorest parts of the country may further restrict their employment opportunity in can be described as a ‘ double disadvantage."

The news piece was originally written for the Eastern Eye.

Simon Woolley