Understanding socio-economic diversity in the UK workforce

This research project is led by the Purpose Coalition and the Centre for Inequality of Levelling Up (CEILUP) at the University of West London. It is based on the premise that measuring the socio-economic composition of the workforce is the first step to developing a strategy to enhance social mobility. The aim of the project is to assemble more evidence regarding the degree to which employers are collecting evidence on the socio-economic composition of their workforce. The survey is being distributed to employers across the UK from a wide range of sectors.

The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete. It will ask whether or not you collect data on the socio-economic composition of your workforce and if you do how and why, and if not why not and whether you plan to do so in the future.

The data that you provide will be stored on a secure server and viewed only by members of the Purpose Coalition and the Centre for Inequality of Levelling Up team. Any data that is taken from your responses used in any final report will be anonymised. If you wish to change your responses you have 3 weeks from the submission of the survey to do so. Data you provide will be destroyed 12 months after it is entered. The data collected will be used to inform a report that will be launched in Autumn 2023.

If you have any questions regarding the project, the survey or how data is stored please contact Professor Graeme Atherton. Head of the Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up on graeme.atherton@uwl.ac.uk.

The survey will close on the 10th of August 2023.

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Organisation

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* 3. Position in the organisation

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* 4. How many employees does your organisation have?

Less than 100

101-1000

Over 1000

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* 5. Do you currently collect data on the socio-economic background of your workforce?

Yes on the whole workforce

Yes on some of the workforce (Please state which part of the workforce)

If you have answered no to this question please go to question 13

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* 6. If yes, what measure(s) are you using to collect this data

First in family to attend university

Parental occupation at age 14

Type of school attended

Eligibility for Free School Meals

All

Other (please state)

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* 7. How did you collect data on the socio-economic background of your workforce?

Added into employer profile

Via question(s) as part of a regular employee survey

Via a separate survey

Other method (please state)

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* 8. When do/did you collect this information

Annually

As part of a one off survey (if so when)

Other (please state)

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* 9. How challenging has it been to collect data on the socio-economic background of your workforce?

Very challenging

Quite challenging

Not very challenging

Quite straightforward

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* 10. Do you publicly report your results?

Yes

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* 11. Would you recommend tracking social mobility data to other employers?

Yes

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* 12. What do you use the data on the socio-economic background of your workforce for? Please tick one or more statements that apply to your organisation

To inform outreach work with prospective employees via schools/colleges/universities/other organisations

To inform hiring and recruitment strategies

To inform progression and advancement policies within the organisation

To input into your equality, diversity and inclusion strategy

All

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* 13. If you are not collecting data on the socio-economic background of your workforce at present, why? Please tick one or more statements that apply to your organisation

We are unsure what questions to ask to collect this data

We do not think that collecting this data is relevant or useful to our organisation

We are unsure about how collect this data

We are unsure that our workforce would provide this information if asked

We are concerned about data collection regulations and their relationship to this kind of activity

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* 14. If you are not collecting data on the socio-economic background of your workforce at present are you planning to do so?

Yes

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* 15. If you are planning to collect this data in the future when will you be doing?

Within the next 12 months

Within the next 3 years

Yes, but no specific plans in place

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* 16. What 3 steps would support your organisation in either your existing work in collecting data on the socio-economic background of your workforce or any prospective work in this area your organisation may do in the future? Please tick one or more statements that apply to your organisation

Information of how to design appropriate survey questions and a data collection strategy

The opportunity to share practice/receive support as part of a group or network of employers working on data collection/social mobility work

Collecting data on the socio-economic background of your workforce being made mandatory by the government

Publication of examples of good practice in the collecting of data on the socio-economic background of your workforce

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* 17. Would you support tracking and reporting of social mobility data being made mandatory for larger employers over a certain number of employees and/or market value?

Yes

Unsure

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* 18. Is there anything else you would like to add regarding the collection of data on the socio-economic background of your workforce/your work on social mobility overall?