A diverse yet well integrated population is increasingly seen as an important building block to creating a successful economy. The range of business skills and cultures can potentially create a highly entrepreneurial environment. Despite these benefits the agenda can also create social and cultural tensions within the existing population, if the process is not properly managed.

Black and ethnic minority groups make up an increasing percentage of the UK population; the rate has now risen to 8.2% in the UK but is just 2.1% in the North East.

As well as encouraging a wide variety of backgrounds into the population, it is also essential that they are afforded the same opportunities as the existing population. Although strict employment laws against discrimination are now in place throughout the country, there is still some evidence that there are significant deviations in the fortunes of different groups.

Some groups still have average wages well below the total UK level. Black or ethnic minorities are 40% more likely to live in a low income household. Rates of pay fluctuate wildly between groups, although the introduction of the minimum wage successfully raised the pay of some of the most vulnerable groups, without halting the growth in employment.

Fact File

• The unemployment rate in the UK for people with disabilities is 7.2%. The NE employment rate for people with disabilities is 8.6%.
• Earnings in the North East are just 87% of the UK level for mean earnings.
• On average 8.2% of the national population is made up of ethnic minorities. The NE has the lowest level, just 2.1%.
• The gap between male and female employment rate in the NE is 4% lower than the UK rate.
• While the North East has one of the lowest wage gaps between men and women, it also the second lowest average earnings rate behind Northern Ireland.
• The gap between male and female earnings varies significantly between sub-regions. The gap is a high as 38% in Redcar & Cleveland and as low as 1% in Darlington (based on gross weekly pay for full time workers).
• The region has the lowest unemployment rate for minorities in GB but it also has the highest inactivity rate amongst minorities in GB. The NE also has the lowest activity rate for the female population.