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We buy from people like us. So it's common sense that the make-up of any organisation should reflect the diversity of its customers. Companies that reflect their customers and communities develop more relevant products, offer more appropriate services and build more productive relationships. If you’re an employer whose employees all look, sound and think the same, here are a few statistics that will make you think. (All are from the ONS, unless otherwise stated.)
Age
Disability
Gender
Gay and lesbian
Ethnicity
Age
- 71% of the workforce is over 35.
- By 2015 66% of the workforce will be over 50.
- By 2012 only a third of the workforce will be male and under 45.
- By 2011, almost a third of Londoners will be aged over 45.
- In 50% of companies, the over-50s make up less than 10% of the workforce, although they represent 30% of people of working age and, frequently, 50% of the customer base. (Institute of Directors, 2002.)
- The over-55s represent 70% of the UK’s high-net-worth individuals. (Third Age Employment Network.)
- The over 50s have a disposable income of £175billion a year and owe more, relative to their income, than younger people.
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Disability
- 20% of the working-age population has a disability. Only 11% is employed.
- 28% of people with disabilities who are economically inactive say they would like to work compared to 24% of non-disabled economically inactive people.
- Just 8% of people with disabilities are confined to a wheelchair.
- People with disabilities have an annual spending power of £80billion. (DWP.)
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Gender
- By 2010, 76% of the growth in working-age population will be female.
- By 2016, 7 out of 10 new jobs in London will be filled by women.
- Nearly 23% of families in Great Britain with dependent children are headed by a lone mother.
- Over 80% of family purchasing decisions are made by women. (Greater London Authority Economics.)
- At A level, women outperformed men in virtually all subject groups in 2000/01.
- Women also outperform men in vocational qualifications – 29% of young women in schools and colleges gained a distinction for their Advanced General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) in 2000/01, compared with 17% of young men.
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Gay and lesbian
- Just over 6% of the UK population is lesbian or gay. (DTI.)
- The UK Pink Pound is worth £70 billion. (‘Out Now 2005 Diva and Gay Times Readers Surveys’.)
- 80% of gay people make a positive point of buying from companies with a pro-gay stance.
- 74% gay and 42% straight consumers are less likely to buy products from companies that hold negative views of lesbians and gay men.
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Ethnicity
- Over the next ten years, half the growth in working-age population will come from ethnic minorities.
- 48% of the total minority ethnic population in Britain live in London – where they comprise 29% of all residents.
- Londoners speak over 220 languages.
- Ethnic minorities form just under 8% of the UK population but account for 13% of graduates.
- Indian & Chinese pupils out-perform white pupils at GCSE.
- Britain is believed to have one of the most religiously diverse populations in the European Union.
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