Disabled men from ethnic minority likelier to do women's work

A new study has demonstrated that men who are disabled and from an ethnic minority are likelier to do women's work.

The study conducted by the University of Exeter Business School analyzed the workforce across the lowest grade in a very large FTSE company, focusing on the lowest paid, low skilled and often part-time jobs.

The study found that ethnic minority men are 50 percent more likely to work part-time and in the lowest grade than white males, men in the lowest grade are 66 percent more likely to be from an ethnic minority, while women in the same grade bracket are 32 percent less likely to be from an ethnic minority.

Prof Carol Woodhams, from the University of Exeter, said that their data showed that men from disadvantaged groups are much more likely than women to end up in low-level work. They did not know why this is, but one suggestion is that men with labour market "disadvantages" are perceived to be less "masculine" in some way.

The study analyzed more than 125,000 cases of workers in the lowest grade over several years. Lowest grade jobs typically comprise roles such as clerical, secretarial and customer service.

Woodhams continued that it was is an unpalatable yet accepted fact that the lowest paid, lowest status work in the UK is predominantly undertaken by women. However, this is the first time that academics have studied the types of men who undertake this work.

Woodhams concluded that this research is the first time that the impact of labor market disadvantages on men has been quantified. They were surprised by the results that disabled men, and those from an ethnic minority, are more likely to be found in feminised, low status work but more shocked that this effect is worse amongst men than it is in women. This same pattern can also be seen in relation to promotion out of low level work. Employers really need to have a good look at their workforce and start addressing these inequalities.