Enhancing Employability for BAME Graduates: Addressing Disparities, Overcoming Barriers, and Harnessing Technology’s Potential

While researching the career paths of Politics graduates through the “What DO Graduate Do Reports” (2013–2023) by Prospects, I uncovered a concerning trend regarding Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) and disabled graduates.

The Trend

The data presented in the report reveals persistent gaps between white and BAME students throughout their educational journey and into the graduate labor market. BAME graduates have lower rates of full-time employment compared to white graduates, with the category of ‘Other black students’ having the lowest proportion in full-time employment. Furthermore, across all age groups, black graduates have the lowest median earnings compared to their white counterparts.

The research reveals an employment gap between white graduates and BAME graduates. According to Graduate Outcomes data, 15 months after graduation, 59.3% of white graduates were in full-time employment, whereas only 51.3% of BAME graduates secured such positions. Moreover, Black male graduates faced a higher unemployment rate compared to their white counterparts.

Causes and Challenges:

The 2020/21 edition of the What DO Graduate Do Reports argues that BAME students often lack social and identity capitals.

Social capital

Social capital, as defined by Cohen and Prusak (2001), refers to the active connections among individuals that encompass trust, mutual understanding, shared values, and cooperative behavior within human networks and communities. These connections can include family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and community associations. Strong social capital can provide individuals with a broader range of job prospects through referrals and recommendations from their network. It enables access to hidden job openings that are not publicly advertised, thereby improving the likelihood of securing employment.

Moreover, social capital equips individuals with valuable insights into the job market, industry trends, and opportunities for professional development. Building and maintaining social capital requires proactive nurturing of relationships, engaging in networking activities, participating in professional communities, and establishing connections with individuals who can offer support and guidance in career advancement. This process becomes particularly crucial for marginalized groups, such as BAME individuals, who often encounter additional barriers when seeking employment.

By strengthening social capital, individuals can significantly enhance their employability and increase their chances of achieving career success.

Identity capital?

Identity capital, as defined by Tomlinson et al. (2017), refers to the psycho-social aspects of a graduate’s biography and lived experiences, and how they invest in and define themselves in relation to their future employment. The strength of a graduate’s emerging career identity greatly influences their approach to future careers and the alignment of their aspirations with specific job areas. This, in turn, impacts their goal-setting abilities and strategies for managing their early experiences in the labor market.

The establishment and maintenance of emerging career identities are crucial as they allow graduates to reflect on and evaluate their profile in relation to their anticipated future careers. The marketability of graduates is increasingly dependent on their ability to present a compelling employability narrative that effectively communicates their identities.

Exploring Recommendations: Promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Graduate Recruitment

“What DO Graduate Do Reports provides several recommendations for structural reform to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in graduate recruitment. These recommendations include:

1. Utilizing strengths-based and situational judgement test assessments to evaluate potential rather than solely focusing on competency.
2. Implementing contextualized recruitment practices that consider students’ potential within the context of their backgrounds and opportunities.
3. Developing targeted internships and work experience programs that offer transformative experiences for BAME students.

However, the report also highlights the problematic use of the term ‘BAME’ as a collective term. It masks the significant disparities that exist between different ethnic groups. Instead of grouping them together, it is crucial to consider the specific experiences and outcomes of each ethnic graduate group. The use of ‘BAME’ in policy discussions and reports can further marginalize non-white graduates and undermine their sense of belonging.

Harnessing Technology for Career Development: Leveraging Social and Identity Capital

I believe technology could also help to consolidate social and indentity capital for BAME graduates particularly; below are some of my suggestions:

Social capital can be fostered through the effective use of technology, specifically by leveraging social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as actively participating in virtual events and webinars. While the Twitter and LinkedIn offer opportunities to connect and network with professionals in specific industries or areas of interest. These platforms provide a space to engage in discussions, share insights, and establish connections with individuals relevant to one’s career goals. By actively participating in online communities, graduates can expand their professional network and cultivate valuable connections.

Virtual Events and Webinars, on the other hand, enables participation in virtual networking events, industry conferences, and webinars. These online platforms provide opportunities to meet and interact with professionals from various fields, regardless of geographical limitations. Active engagement in these events allows graduates to expand their network, gain industry insights, and establish meaningful relationships with like-minded professionals.

Technology plays a vital role in nurturing identity capital too. Profile building is crucial for presenting a comprehensive overview of an individual’s skills, experiences, and aspirations. While creating a well-crafted CV is a traditional approach, leveraging online portfolios and personal websites allows individuals to showcase their work, skills, and accomplishments. These platforms provide a space to express individuality, highlight achievements, and craft a personal narrative that sets them apart from others.

Finally, technology can significantly assist in developing both social and identity capital. Therefore, I would recommend policymakers and UK Higher education institutions to offer innovative ways to students to build and consolidate their social and identity capital to enhance BAME’s students’ employability and career development.