DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES AND SOCIAL COHESION OF MINORITY ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES

This paper presents a profile of the comparative economic, social and demographic characteristics of people from minority ethnic groups living in England and Wales, mainly using data from the 2001 Census of Population. The paper starts by briefly discussing the question of social cohesion and material progress for minority ethnic groups, whose migration to the UK was relatively recent. The relative youth, geographical concentration and economic disadvantage of these ethnic groups are presented as key characteristics for their social inclusion and social cohesion. Contrasts between ethnic groups in demography, family composition, social structure and labour market participation are discussed, highlighting the continued disadvantage of minority ethnic groups taken as a whole relative to white people, but also the economic progress of some ethnic groups.