BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT
REPORT 2004 - 2005
CONTENT
1Forward Background
2Methodology
3Introduction
4Barriers to Employment and Training Research Findings
Section (a)-Present situation
Section (b)-Employed, Self Employed, in Training or Further Education
Section (c)-Unemployed
Section (d)-Type of Employment / Training
Section (e)-Further Education & Training
Section (f)-Disabled
Section (g)-Barriers
Section (h) -Barriers to Learners Identified by training Providers
5Findings/Analysis
6Barriers to Learners Identified by Training Providers
Findings/Analysis
7Conclusions
8Recommendations
9Appendices
App 1 Questionnaire
10Acknowledgements
1. Forward/Background
Equality NE Ltd (original company name Fair Play NE Ltd) was launched in 1994 as part of a national initiative supported by the DfEE and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It became an independent, not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee in 1997. The aim of the organisation is to become recognised as the foremost brand in the region tackling equal opportunities and diversity issues in employment, training and education, ultimately removing the barriers to economic and social life for all.
In order to achieve those aims Equality North East deliver various initiatives including the website . The site is a one stop source of equal opportunities information aimed at small businesses and individuals helping them with everything they need to know about their rights and responsibilities pertaining to equality of opportunities in the workplace. It also has a job vacancy section where pro-active employers can advertise free of charge. We ensure that the web-site is made available to as many people as possible through our access points – these are in centres throughout the North East region, for example ethnic minority centres, age concern, women’s centres etc. We have over 200 access points throughout the North East Region.
The DurhamCo-Financing Project.
This Project falls under Measure 2.3 – Combating Discrimination in the Labour Market and is in two parts.
The first part of the project was to carry out research into the barriers to employment, training and education faced by disadvantaged/specific groups.
On identifying these barriers it is intended to assist training providers in implementing policies and monitoring procedures which will help to overcome these barriers.
This report outlines the findings of the research.
2. Methodology
Research was carried out in Access Points and Training Providers throughout the Durham area. The access points are situated in a variety of centres, including: Ethnic Minority Centres, Libraries, Disability Centres, Youth Drop-in Centres and Training Centres. Access points provide free internet access for those clients who attend.
Specific groups were targeted in order to gather an accurate measure for this research.
Target groups included:
- People aged 16-24
- People over 50
- Ethnic Minorities
- People with Disabilities
- People living in Rural Areas
The report reveals the comparisons between each sector.
A questionnaire was developed which was designed to collect specific information in a structured format to reinforce our research. ENE staff used the ENE Access Points together with Durham Training Providers to enlist volunteers to be interviewed by means of a questionnaire.
ENE staff carried out interviews using the questionnaire. (App1).
The questionnaire was used on a one to one basis where and when necessary. However, where possible it was advised they were completed by individuals in a workshop environment, following a brief presentation raising an awareness pertaining to the issues for this research
The aims of the workshop were to: -
- Raise awareness of the individual’s rights and responsibilities pertaining to equality in the workplace
- Raise awareness of the process of stereotyping and how this can lead to prejudice and discrimination
- Raise awareness of the main pieces of legislation covering discrimination
- Examine the different types of discrimination including direct and indirect
- Encourage and assist participants to identify any forms of barriers, (including forms of discrimination) to training and employment.
The workshops enabled all target groups to consider different ways in which they could have been discriminated against with regard to training, education and employment.
The Training Providers and Access Points contacted initially were: -
New College Durham
Groundwork East Durham
Pioneering Care Partnership
Action Team for Jobs
Remploy
Sedgefield Borough Council
Auckland Training
Darlington & DurhamCounty Racial Equality Council
BishopAucklandCollege
DeneValley Partnership
EastHoughallCommunity College
DurhamUniversity
Training Providers and Access points who aided the research included:
New College Durham
Groundwork East Durham
Pioneering Care Partnership
Auckland Training
Darlington & DurhamCounty Racial Equality Council
BishopAucklandCollege
EastHoughallCommunity College
J & B Skills
Sedgefield Training
2D, Crook
Chester le Street Council for Voluntary Services CVS assisted in directing ENE to NP Training and Welfare to Work, of which both were unable to support the research at this time.
Equality North East also facilitated a work shop attended by training providers to learn what barriers they thought faced learners.
Breakdown of activities
June – action planning
July – design of questionnaire, staff training, identified potential interviews
August – development of training brief and presentation for delivery of research based workshops
August – December delivery of presentations, workshops and interviews
There were 147 people interviewed in total.
September
16-24 / 50+ / Ethnic Minorities / Disability / Rural / Total29 / 4 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 39
October
16-24 / 50+ / Ethnic Minorities / Disability / Rural / Total3 / 5 / 9 / 3 / 24 / 44
November
16-24 / 50+ / Ethnic Minorities / Disability / Rural / Total3 / 3 / 0 / 5 / 10 / 21
December
16-24 / 50+ / Ethnic Minorities / Disability / Rural / Total0 / 8 / 20 / 6 / 0 / 34
3. Introduction
BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT
In total we interviewed 147 people throughout CountyDurham.
Interviews took place at:
Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope (BishopAucklandCollege)
Pioneering Care Partnership, Newton Aycliffe
New College, Durham
Sedgefield Training, Spennymoor
St Nicholas Church, Durham (REC)
JB Skill Care
Auckland Training, Bishop Auckland
BishopAucklandCollege
East Durham and HoughallCommunity College, Peterlee
2D, Crook
Type of people Interviewed
The ‘Other’ category were people who did not match any of the target groups.
Age of People Interviewed
Ethnicity of people interviewed
4
Barriers to Employment and Training
Research Findings
SECTION (a)
What Are You Doing at Present?
Of the 147 people interviewed, people where asked whether they were in employment, further education, training, or self-employed. The graph below shows the results.
Those who answered ‘other’ were retired, or doing voluntary work.
Of the 67 who said they were in Full Time Employment, the average time which they have been working for is 5 years and their average hours per week are 27.
Of the 33 who said they were in Further Education, the average time for which they have been attending is 1¾ years and their average hours per week are 22½.
Of the 6 who said they were Self Employed the longest time was 25 years and the shortest was 2 years. The average working time was 18 hours but one person worked up to 60 hours per week.
Of the 30 who said they were doing some kind of Training the average time they had been doing this was just over 1 year. The average hours of training they did was 24 per week. Although there were some people doing full time training.
The graph below shows the breakdown of the target groups
SECTION (b)
Are you happy with the hours worked?
In total, 111 of the 147 people questioned answered this question. 82 said that they were happy with the hours they worked while 29 said they were not.
The graph shows the number of hours the target groups work.
The graph shows when people would like to work.
An accurate measure was not achieved with this question, although 111 people answered this question, many gave more than one answer revealing that they would like to work part time or full time as well as being flexible.
The graph shows the breakdown of the target groups.
Comments made were:-
Disabled:-
‘Happy with balance being decreased due to health’
‘I was medically retired 7 years ago and working in the Voluntary sector the people there are the best I've worked with. Being a volunteer the hours are variable and suit me.’
Rural:-
‘I'm easy going, whatever's on offer’
‘Would like to work the hours I get paid for - 30 hours’
Are you restricted in the hours you work for any personal reasons?
EG. Caring Responsibilities, Health Issues etc.
111 people answered this question. 29 said ‘Yes’ and 82 said ‘No’.
Research showed that one of the interviewees stated that being deaf restricted the hours they could do. The restrictions which people said they have are shown in the Pie-chart below.
If you are currently employed are you able to access training?
Of the 83 people that answered this question, 65 said ‘Yes’ they were able to access training and 18 said they were not able to access training.
If Yes, Are you supported by work?
Of those 68 who answered this question, 58 said they were supported by work and 10 said that they weren’t. Of those who answered ‘Yes’, research showed that some employers were willing to pay for the training and some provided ‘in-house’ training. If the training was appropriate to the job then training was supported. One interviewee who has a disability had a support worker who helps to access training for them. Those who were currently volunteers found it difficult to access training as the majority of them would have to pay themselves.
Would you like to different work?
In total 89 people answered this question, with 23 saying ‘Yes’, they would like to do different work while 66 said they were happy with the work they are doing at present.
The breakdown of the target groups:-
Target groups / Yes / No16 – 24 / 8 / 15
50+ / 0 / 11
Ethnic Minorities / 2 / 10
Disabled / 2 / 6
Rural / 10 / 19
SECTION (c)
Are you registered Unemployed?
Of the 82 people who answered, 20 were registered unemployed and 62 were not.
Do You Want To Work?
In total 52 people answered, 42 said‘Yes’ and 10 said‘No’.
Target groups / Yes / No16 – 24 / 14 / 2
50+ / 2 / 3
Ethnic Minorities / 10 / 1
Disabled / 6 / 2
Rural / 9 / 1
Why do you want to work?
The graph below shows the reasons why people want to work.
Other reasons were to pass the time, look after old people and one said they enjoyed face painting. Another interviewee was originally from Belarus and is a qualified piano teacher who would like to work but unfortunately can’t find a job at present.
Are there any physical/mental factors which prevent you from working?
In total 61 people answered this question with 47 having no physical/mental factors preventing them from working while 14 did.
Specific disabilities were wheelchair users, deafness and visually impaired.
Are there any personal or domestic reasons which would restrict you from working or restrict the hours you work?
In total 53 people answered this question with 39 saying ‘No’ they had no restrictions while 14 said they did.
The graph below shows the breakdown of the target groups.
If you are disabled do you think this has any effect of your ability to get a job?
23 people answered this question with 13 saying that their disability hadn’t had any effect on them getting a job while 10 said it had.
Those 10 people made the following comments:-
‘Anything that has a physical test.’
‘I want to be a forensic scientist, but would need to do something else in this area.’
‘Not tried due to disability.’
‘I need a job where I can sit. No jobs in Crook. Can't drive to other towns and no time to travel by bus.’
‘Getting around is very difficult, the more or further I travel the more destabilised I become.’
‘Lack of Deaf awareness’
‘Diabetes severe and health issues from this. But I feel I'm not reliable but I am a very good worker.’
‘Buildings not accessible. People's ignorance.’
Are you currently receiving any training or working towards any qualification?
11 people answered this question, 3 were not working towards any qualification and 8 were.
The type of qualification that people were working towards were NVQ’s in Business Admin, Environmental Conservation and Assessor Training. There were some people doing English courses, IT training and History (British) French. Two people stood out in particularly as both have disabilities, one has a short term memory problem due to an accident but is doing a Science degree, advanced diploma in professional development and working towards forensic/crime science. Another who has learning disabilities is doing ongoing fire training, disability equality training and equal opportunities training.
SECTION (d)
What type of work would you like to do?
The graph shows that the majority of people would like to do Administration/Office work or Beauty Therapy work. Many of those interviewed at New College Durham were doing a Beauty Therapy/Hairdressing course.
There were many different types of jobs that came into the other category, for example:
Reflexologist, Dance Music Producer, Head Chef, Photography, Working on a Cruise Ship, a Doctor, Game Keeper and one person said that they would like a more advanced job.
Do you need qualifications for this type of work?
In total 78 people answered this question, 14 said ‘No’, they didn’t need a qualification, 12 didn’t know whether a qualification was needed and remaining 52 said ‘Yes’, the did need a qualification.
Of those people who stated the type of work they would like to do which was 69, 46 of them said that they would need a qualification to carryout the type of work they would like to do whilst 13 said they wouldn’t need a qualification and the remaining weren’t sure.
What are the qualifications you need for this type of work?
The graph shows the different types of qualifications people have said that they need to do the type of work they would like to do.
The graph above shows the different types of qualifications people need for the type of job they wish to do. Those in the ‘other’ category needed qualifications such as, Catering
Gardening and Horticulture, PGCE(Post Graduate Certificate of Education), Sexual Health / Teaching/ Counselling and IT.
Those people who answered the question about the type of work they wanted to do 26 said they had the required qualifications and while 33 did not.
Target groups / Yes / No16 – 24 / 8 / 9
50+ / 2 / 1
Ethnic Minorities / 6 / 5
Disabled / 5 / 4
Rural / 9 / 11
If Yes, Have you found they are accepted?
In total 27 people answered this question, 19 said‘Yes’, they had found that their qualifications had been accepted while 8 said ‘No’, they had not been accepted.
Interviewees gave the following comments:-
Ethnic Minorities:-
‘I have a diploma from my country (Belarus) I am a professional teacher’
‘I am waiting for registration at General Medical Council’
‘Prejudice’
‘I haven't worked in a factory before but I don't need any special qualifications.’
Rural:-
‘I am not training for any of these I'm on Business Admin Course.’ (This person said that the type of work they would like to do would be ‘Working with animals, catering, hairdressing, something active).
SECTION (e)
Are you currently receiving any training or working towards any qualifications?
The graph below shows the breakdown of target groups.
Of the 114 people who answered this question, 22 were not working towards a qualification while 92 were.
The graph shows the different types of qualifications people are undertaking. Those who came under the ‘Other’ category were doing the following qualifications:-
ORC Fitness, Forensic Science, Gardening / Horticulture, Teaching & Counselling, Sport science & exercise, European Driving Licence and British Sign Language Level 2.
There were many people doing NVQ’s and the graph below shows the different subjects people are working towards in NVQ’s.
16-24:-
Beauty Therapy, NVQ 2, Basic Skills eg. Maths, English
50+:-
IT, Creative Writing
Ethnic Minorities:-
Higher Education, ESOL, NVQ Social Care
Disabled:-
Maths, Forensic Science, PhD, EDLC
Rural:-
IT, Administration NVQ, Beauty Therapy, Teaching, Sports Science
Both graphs show a lack of IT courses. We spoke to a tutor at EDHCC who said that when new IT courses were becoming available they were filled up very quickly, consequently students were unable to access IT courses.
If no, would you like to?
Of the people who said that they weren’t receiving any training or working towards any qualifications, 24 said that they would like to and 6 said they would not.
The majority of those who would like to do training/qualifications were Ethnic Minorities.
If yes, what would you like to do?
The graph shows the qualifications which people would like to undertake.
What type of Further Education / Training are you doing?
The graph shows the type of further education or training that people are currently doing.
Beauty Therapy, English and Maths are the main categories. Some interviews which took place at NCD where with the Beauty Therapy class. The majority of interviews which took place at EDHCC, Peterlee were with Ethnic Minorities who were doing an ESOL course, hence the great interest in English and Maths.