Young black men experience lower employment rates than most other groups of young people, regardless of their qualification level.The second of two sessionsaddressing this issue, this webinar will focus on retention and progression. It will discuss how your business can ensure a supportive workplace for young black men, and the importance of setting targets and development opportunities for them to progress to senior positions.
The first webinar,Improving Employment Outcomes for Young Black Men – Part 1will focus on attraction and recruitment, and understanding the changes your business can make to hire more young black men.
Young black men and employment
In 2019, 33% of young black men who were available and looking for work were unemployed compared to 15% for young white men1. Responsible businesses know that their workforces should reflect the communities it serves and, with one-fifth of all young men in London being from black and mixed ethnic groups2, businesses need to tackle the structural barriers faced by young black men in order to recruit from more diverse talent pools.
Employers struggle to fill almost one in four job vacancies due to skills shortages3. At the same time, there is an untapped talented pool of young people who are ready and keen to work. The unemployment rate for young black men is double the rate for young white men, even when they have the same level of qualifications4. Thousands of young black men in London are available for and actively looking for work. This pair of webinars will look at ways that employers can help address this situation.
Speakers
Moving on Up
These sessions are part of a wider project being delivered by Business in the Community (BITC), in partnership with Brent Council and theMoving on Up Initiative.
Moving on Up Initiative has two aims.
Business in the Community and Race Equality
After 25 years of campaigning for race equality in the UK, Business in the Community (BITC) believes every employer must prioritise action on race.
There are two key actions leaders can take today to amplify your commitment to improving equality of opportunity in the workplace.
Find out more about BITC’s Race agenda.
About Business in the Community’s peer learning forums
BITC’speer learning forumsprovide a confidential environment to discuss common issues, good practice and solutions. There will be an emphasis on discussion and sharing experiences.
Audience
This event is by invitation only. If you think you should have been invited and have not, contactEllie Jefford, Events Coordinator at BITC.
Contact details and further information
For more information, contactEllie Jefford, Events Coordinator at BITC.
Full joining instructions will be sent before the event.
Following government advice on social distancing, all BITC events over the coming months will be delivered remotely via digital technology.
LEARN MORE
Business in the Community is creating a skilled and inclusive workforce for today and tomorrow
Frank Nigriello, Director of Corporate Affairs and Deborah Astles, Corporate Responsibility Director at Unipart Group, consider the employment and skills challenges and opportunities facing responsible businesses
Jessica Runicles, Head of Responsible Business Strategy at Business in the Community (BITC), expresses BITC’s disappointment with the conclusions in the recent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, and reflects on the experiences of our Advisory team over the last year.
This Improving Employment Outcomes for Young Black Men factsheet outlines the vital role employers can play in addressing disparities by creating inclusive and diverse workforces.
References