Figures show white household incomes 63% higher than black households

Black workers ONS

Household incomes among white ethnic groups are on average 63% higher than those for black ethnic groups, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figure for white households – before taking into account taxes and benefits – was £42,371 a year compared to £25,982 for black households, the ONS data showed.

It echoes earlier findings that white employees tend to have greater hourly earnings than groups from other ethnicities and that black households are most likely to have lower annual disposable incomes.

The latest ONS data, covering the year to the end of March 2019, comes as global protests following the death of George Floyd have intensified scrutiny of racial inequality in society.

The figures show the average original income – that is, including private earnings such as salaries and investments and before taxes and benefits – for UK households by ethnic group.

For white households, it is £42,371 – slightly higher than the average for the entire population of £41,139.
All other groups fall below the national average, with Asian households on £35,526 and black households at £25,982.

The data shows that the gap narrows when taking into account the effect of taxes and benefits, as well as indirect taxes such as VAT and “benefits in kind”, including NHS care and state education.

However, even then white household incomes remain 18% higher than those for black households.

Earlier this week, a report from Business in the Community showed that just 1.5% of top managers in the private sector are black – even though black people make up more than 3% of the population in England and Wales.