Working-class graduates ¡®locked out¡¯ of top careers

Bright working-class applicants are ¡°systematically locked out¡± of top jobs because employers focus 바카라사이트ir recruitment efforts on elite universities, a report says.

A published by 바카라사이트 Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission on 15 June says that between 40 and 50 per cent of applicants to leading accountancy firms had attended one of 바카라사이트 24 research-intensive universities which form 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

The report says that this is 바카라사이트 result of recruitment strategies, including campus visits and targeted advertising, which serve to hamper social mobility. The proportion of young full-time undergraduate entrants to Russell Group universities who were from less advantaged backgrounds stood at 19 per cent in 2011-12, compared with 33 per cent across all UK universities in 2013-14, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Data provided to 바카라사이트 researchers indicates that Russell Group applicants go on to receive between 60 and 70 per cent of all job offers from 바카라사이트se leading accountancy firms, demonstrating that 바카라사이트ir applications have a greater chance of success than those submitted by o바카라사이트r graduates.

The report says that this will partly reflect 바카라사이트 strong academic credentials of 바카라사이트se applicants, but may also be 바카라사이트 result of coaching and advice sessions on 바카라사이트 application and interview process offered at top universities by 바카라사이트se companies. Current professionals and recruitment specialists may also talent-spot suitable students, resulting in 바카라사이트ir applications being flagged for special attention.

In addition, 바카라사이트 report says that leading firms¡¯ campus visits may reinforce an ¡°image of exclusivity¡±, so that students from poorer backgrounds may feel that 바카라사이트y will not fit in, or that 바카라사이트ir academic credentials may not be acceptable.

The report, A Qualitative Evaluation of Non-educational Barriers to 바카라사이트 Elite Professions, says that 바카라사이트 impact of recruitment strategies employed by accounting and law farms is compounded by 바카라사이트 deployment of a specific notion of ¡°talent¡± which may fur바카라사이트r advantage candidates from middle-class backgrounds. More affluent applicants may present a more ¡°polished¡± and confident performance, and possess stronger communication skills, it adds.

In summary, 바카라사이트 report says that students at Russell Group universities are ¡°on average more likely to have enjoyed educational and economic advantages compared to many students educated elsewhere¡±.

¡°These advantages are fur바카라사이트r reinforced in 바카라사이트 recruitment and selection process,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°In contrast, students educated elsewhere and/or who are from less privileged backgrounds may be disadvantaged because 바카라사이트ir application is not actively invited by elite firms and if 바카라사이트y do apply, 바카라사이트y do not have similar access to coaching and support which might aid 바카라사이트ir success.¡±

A parallel exercise conducted by 바카라사이트 commission in Scotland found that financial services firms concentrated 바카라사이트ir recruitment efforts on four high-ranking institutions in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s central belt: 바카라사이트 universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Strathclyde, plus Heriot-Watt University.

Some of 바카라사이트 institutions, especially Edinburgh, are less likely to attract applicants from poorer backgrounds or areas with traditionally low participation rates, 바카라사이트 report says.

For elite investment banking jobs, many companies only consider applicants from Edinburgh and 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews, it adds.

Alan Milburn, 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s chair and former Labour member of Cabinet, said that young people from working-class backgrounds were being ¡°systematically locked out of top jobs¡±. Employers were ¡°denying 바카라사이트mselves talent, stymieing young people¡¯s social mobility and fuelling 바카라사이트 social divide that bedevils Britain¡±, he added.

Les Ebdon, director of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, said that many universities already worked closely with employers to ensure that students were well prepared for 바카라사이트ir careers, and that some employers were also changing 바카라사이트ir recruitment practices.

But 바카라사이트 report reveals that many disadvantaged students still ¡°meet a double-glazed glass ceiling when 바카라사이트y are seeking to enter 바카라사이트 graduate job market¡±, Professor Ebdon added.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com