Brian Rushton The XX-factor

Brian Rushton,

The writing on the wall

IF BRITONS suffered after the 2008 financial crash, ethnic minorities suffered most. Their earnings slipped further and their household incomes fell faster than those of whites. For two groups, however—Pakistani and Bangladeshi Britons—things got better. Household incomes went up and earnings increased (see chart), while Bangladeshi children have most improved their circumstances. Both groups have long lagged behind other Britons. Why are they catching up now?

The answer is that women from these communities have entered the workforce, and they have done so in droves. Until recently, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis had the smallest proportion of women in work: just 31% of Pakistani women and 21% of Bangladeshi women were involved in the labour market between 2001 and 2005, in contrast to 77% of white British women. Since 2008 the proportion of Bangladeshi women in work has...Continue reading

via Brian Rushton, The XX-factor