BAME ‘under-represented’ in public jobs

BLACK and ethnic minority workers are “chronically under-represented” in Scotland’s public sector, a new study has found.

Just 1.8 per cent of civil servants working in Scotland are from ethnic minorities, according to official statistics – despite making up 4% of the population.

Meanwhile, less than 1% of council employees identify as non-white in 21 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. Dumfries & Galloway Council has just one non-white staff member for every 1,000 employees. The figures were compiled by Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar following reseach by the independent Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Statistics show there are only 10 ethnic minority civil servants at the most senior level, while black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) police officers and staff make up just 1% of Police Scotland.

Mr Sarwar will call for “a change in culture” to ensure senior positions reflect Scottish society when he addresses a BAME into Leadership conference in Edinburgh today.

Ahead of the speech, he said: “A diverse workforce is a strength, and we need a change in culture so that our public sector fully reflects Scottish society.

“And that doesn’t just mean increasing the number of BAME employees, but also those in positions of leadership.”

In the keynote address, Mr Sarwar will call for a full audit of BAME representation in the public sector workforce.

He will say: “One mechanism that employers can put in place to help address the workforce gap is to include a requirement for at least one BAME candidate, where at least one has applied, to be shortlisted for an interview for a vacancy.

“This will not automatically mean that more BAME people will be appointed, but it will at least increase the likelihood of it happening.”

He will argue gender representation rules for public boards could also be applied to BAME representation.