Inequality still exists among new research discovers

Black people in the UK are paid less than their white counterparts despite having similar qualifications, new figures reveal.

Research by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) discovered that black workers with A-levels earn 10% less than white workers who have similar qualifications.

The figures, based on ONS Labour Force Survey figures from Q2 2016 – Q1 2017, show that black workers with A-Levels are missing out on an average of £1.20 per hour, when compared to the average wages enjoyed by white workers.

While the more qualified a worker was the higher pay they received, the pay gap for black workers often increases with the more qualifications they gain.

The research shows black workers with degrees face a 14% pay gap equal to £2.63 less per hour, while those with higher education certificates and diplomas face a 20% gap, or £2.98 less per hour.

And black school leavers with GCSEs earn 12% less (£1.30 less per hour), and those with no qualifications face a 5% pay gap, or 45 pence less per hour.

Overall, regardless of qualifications, black workers are paid 8.3% less than their white peers, losing out on an average of £1.15 an hour.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Whether they have PhDs or GCSEs, black workers simply aren’t getting paid the same as white workers with similar qualifications.

“Students get their A-level results this week. The harsh reality is that race will still play a huge role in how much they get paid.

“It’s time for the government to require employers to publish pay data broken down by ethnicity. Then we can see where the problems are and put pressure on bosses to close the pay gap.”

The findings come a few months after a separate TUC study warned that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers are being “forced into low-paid, insecure work”.

The TUC study found that one in 13 BAME employees were trapped in insecure jobs, compared to just one in 20 white employees.