title: First and Second Generation Ethnic Minorities: An Investigation of Black African and Black Caribbean Current Employment Status in England and Wales
Creators: name: George, B
Publisher: name: Liverpool John Moores University
Year: 2024

description: First and second generation ethnic minorities exhibit lower employment prospects than their native-born counterparts. However, studies on Black Africans and Black Caribbeans in England and Wales's labour market are limited. This research investigates first and second generation Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic minority groups' employment disadvantages in the United Kingdom (UK) labour market. It analyses the experiences and nature of employment disadvantages faced by these ethnic minorities. It also identifies the similarities and differences between their employment disadvantages. Human capital and social capital theories were used as the main theoretical framework to interpret the findings. Qualitative data collection methods were used to obtain data. Thirty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted and presented as the primary data collection method. Ethnic and migration studies were used as secondary sources. The findings of the research show that first generation Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic minorities experience labour market disadvantages compared to second generation ethnic minorities who arrived in the UK as children or were born to their overseas parents. However, second generation Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic minorities' employment disadvantages have gradually disappeared, but ethnic penalties remain. The study provides evidence that factors such as limited knowledge of the workings of the labour market, work experience, skills and lack of recognition of foreign qualifications and training, inadequate social networks, including employee referral systems, influenced the employment disadvantages of these ethnic minority groups. Similar factors were that the first and second generation ethnic minorities have the same ethnic background and are less likely to graduate from prestigious universities. They also live in similar geographical locations with limited employment prospects. Key differences between them were that the first generation ethnic minorities lacked sufficient knowledge of the UK labour market. In contrast, the second generation ethnic minorities have pre-labour market advantages as they are more educated than the first generation ethnic minorities. Theoretically, the study confirms and extends human and social capital theories relating to the employment disadvantages of ethnic minorities. It has shown how, within the UK context, additional factors such as unequal opportunities for career progression, race, ethnic background, and deprived neighbourhoods with limited employment prospects significantly influence the employment disadvantages of ethnic minorities.The study concludes by providing some implications and suggestions for improvements to eradicate the employment disadvantages of Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic minorities and proposes areas for future research. The insights will benefit academics and policymakers, such as human resource practitioners, managers, and the UK government.