White British still top consultant placement_2

A survey of rec-to-rec firms has revealed that nearly 80% of the recruitment consultants placed with agencie
A survey of rec-to-rec firms has revealed that nearly 80% of the recruitment consultants placed with agencies during a recent six-month period were of white British ethnicity.

Of the remaining 21% of consultants placed between September 2006 and last February, an additional 9% were white of other backgrounds, and 12% were of other ethnic groups, the survey showed.

Twenty companies responded to the REC's R2R sector group survey and reported a total of 551 placements during the six months. The respondents represent two-thirds of the R2R sector group members.

Commenting on the survey, Elizabeth Jacques Jones, director of Prime Partnership and a founding member of the sector group, told Recruiter that she finds clients open to "all colours, religions and ethnic groups", however they are wary of hiring consultants with heavy ethnic accents.

"I don't think people are being racist," Jacques Jones said. "I think they are concerned about accent and vocal style, and I think they are afraid of coaching people for fear of being accused of racist."

She went on to say that future research into the industry's diversity statistics must look at a breakdown between experienced professionals and new entrants. She said that those with experience may well fit the white British mould while new entrants are an increasingly more diverse group.

A further breakdown of the ethnicity statistics shows that 1.5% of the consultants placed were black African, another 1.5% were black Caribbean and 1.5% were Indian. At 2.6%, 'Asian other' represented the largest ethnic group within the 12% of all other ethnicities.

Of the consultants placed, 55% were men and 45% were women. Figures showed that none of the 551 consultants placed were disabled.

The survey results raise more questions than they answer, said Aaron Reid, executive director of Birmingham Professional DiverCity, which is partnering the REC to conduct diversity audits of recruitment companies. "This snapshot may not tell the whole story," Reid told Recruiter. "I think more research is needed."

Among the questions additional research must ask, Reid said, is whether candidates from diverse backgrounds are being put forward by rec-to-rec agencies for jobs.

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