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Racial inequality in Greater Manchester and proof
About Racial inequality in Greater Manchester
In his 2017 article on Manchester Evening News “Racial inequality is still a massive problem in Greater Manchester – and these are the facts that prove it”, Dr Ornette D Clennon expounds on his critical race scholarship to highlight the hidden-ness of contemporary institutional racism and its deleterious effects.
Racial inequality remains in Greater Manchester remains a significant challenge, manifesting as a series of systemic barriers that impact residents from birth through to adulthood. While the region is celebrated for its diversity—with the 2021 Census showing that Manchester’s Black, Asian, and ethnic minority population has risen to 28.7% of the Greater Manchester poppulation—statistical evidence highlights that this growth has not been matched by parity in life outcomes.
The following facts, drawn from the analysis of Dr Ornette D Clennon and recent official reports, illustrate the depth of these disparities.
Racial inequality in Greater Manchester – Employment
Despite high levels of motivation and qualification, ethnic minority residents face substantial hurdles in the labour market.
Unemployment Rates
Dr Ornette’s article reports that in Greater Manchester, Black and mixed-heritage individuals are nearly three times as likely to be unemployed as their White counterparts. Specifically, unemployment sits at approximately 15% for these groups compared to 6% for White residents. The inequalities this highlights is supported by other sources such as the 2022 Race Equality Report and the Greater Manchester Strategy: Ethnicity Evidence Baseline.
Leadership Gaps
Within the NHS Greater Manchester workforce, while ethnic minority staff make up 17.5% of the total, their representation in the highest-paid leadership roles (the upper hourly pay quarter) fell to 15% in 2024. Notably, data indicates there is no Black representation in positions beyond band 8b.
Other aspects
The article also reports on the recruitment disparity: the recruitment rate for ethnic minority groups in Greater Manchester Police was over half lower than the percentage of these groups in the local population. Economic inequality is further evidenced by a widening gap in hourly earnings across the region’s public sectors, the higher likeliness for minority groups to be given lower paid jobs and the widening gaps for ethnic groups such as Black staff in local healthcare services compared to their White British colleagues. Finally the median earnings of minority staff are also lower.
Education and Qualifications
A common misconception is that inequality stems from a lack of education; however, the data suggests that ethnic minority residents are often more qualified yet still experience worse outcomes. The article shows data that confirms that more Black and minority ethnic (BME) adults in Manchester hold a degree-level qualification or higher that do White adults. The same can be seen in secondary school performance results, more particularly with Ethnic minority children achieving higher GCSE results than White British pupils as confirmed by research from the Educaiton Policy Institute and the Sutton Trust.
Housing and Living Standards
Racial inequality extends into the most basic requirements for a stable life, including secure housing. But in the city of Manchester, BME households are three times more likely to be homeless than White households going higher for those from “Other” backgrounds. Qualitative evidence also suggests that young Black women often face additional “invisible” pressures, such as higher levels of domestic and caregiving responsibilities, which can impede their ability to study and progress at the same rate as their peers.
Criminal Justice and Policing
The application of police powers remains a focal point for measuring systemic bias. The disparity in the Greater Manchester Police stop and search remains a significant issue. Efforts continue to ensure these powers are applied proportionately, as historical data frequently shows higher rates of intervention for Black and minority ethnic individuals as shown in the MacPherson report.
Conclusion
These figures demonstrate that racial inequality is not a relic of the past but a current, entrenched reality. As Dr Clennon argues, the “inequality has just become more hidden.“
Addressing these facts requires more than just acknowledging diversity; it demands targeted, community-led interventions that dismantle the specific structural barriers in housing, pay, and professional progression that continue to limit the potential of Greater Manchester’s residents.
It is in light of such facts that MEaP’s mission remains essential. Making education a priority to enlighten the Greater Manchester community continues of such facts, to combat inequalities, to support the community’s health and wellbeing in such a context, to keep supporting job seekers to build a sustainable career, to continue to strengthen the foundations for young people to soar and to continue to give our community a voice that cannot be denied.