Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make it his policy to require all large employers to collect socio-economic background data on (a) work experience schemes, (b) apprenticeships and (c) entry-level applicants for use in (i) outreach work with schools and (ii) recruitment and progression policies.

This government believes the circumstances of one's birth should not determine life outcomes. The Social Mobility Commission (SMC), an independent body sponsored by the Equality Hub in the Cabinet Office, works to achieve this aim.

The Commission’s employer engagement team works with employers of varying size, across multiple sectors, to create more inclusive and diverse socio-economic workforces. Through their research and engagement with industry trade bodies and employers, and external diversity and inclusion research, they have produced guidance for employers that offers practical help and ideas. This includes guidance on how employers can collect the socio-economic background data of their workforce alongside other diversity data, which can be used by them to measure the socio-economic background of their employees and potential recruits in order to understand if their hiring or progression practices are as fair and meritocratic as they can be.

The SMC's advice is for employers to collect anonymous data from their workforce, apprentices and applicants using the key question "What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were about aged 14?" Optional supplementary questions include the type of school attended for ages 11-16 and eligibility for Free School Meals. Further information is available in their employers' toolkit.

The current approach encourages the collection of data on a voluntary basis, as a mandatory approach would represent a significant burden on employers.