STUDENTS FROM disadvantaged black Caribbean backgrounds are making course choices at 16 which can lead to lower paid jobs, according to a report published by the Social Mobility Commission on Tuesday March 30.

The report, ‘The road not taken: Drivers of course selection’, analysed the course selection and earnings of people who completed their GCSEs in England between 2001-02 and 2004-05.

It found that disadvantaged black Caribbean students and disadvantaged white British women were most likely to choose low-earning courses. 

Only 27% of women and 22% of men from disadvantaged black Caribbean backgrounds took courses in the top 50% of earnings. Likewise, only 24% of disadvantaged white British women took such courses. This compares with 33% of men from disadvantaged white British backgrounds taking courses in the top 50% of earnings.

Other ethnic groups showed notable differences. For example, among those from a disadvantaged black African background, over 50% of women took higher-earnings courses, compared with 39% of men. 

This shows that those from a disadvantaged black African background were more likely to take a higher-earning course than those from both disadvantaged black Caribbean and white British backgrounds.

The report showed that disadvantaged men and women from Chinese and Indian backgrounds were the most likely to take higher-earning courses, with over 50% taking courses in the top 50% for earnings. 

In almost all cases, disadvantaged women were more likely than men to take higher-earning courses, except for women from white British backgrounds. 

The report found that academic routes are the most likely to lead to a big salary, with 80% of A-level courses being linked to well-paid careers in the top 25% of earnings. Technical qualifications were found to be mostly associated with low earnings, with 62% of classroom-based technical qualifications and 40% of apprenticeships leading students on a path to the bottom 25% of earnings.

Alastair Da Costa, Social Mobility Commissioner for Adult Skills and Further Education, said: “Policy needs to focus on closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged and more privileged students, and to ensure that all students get high quality exposure to technical education prior to making their post-16 subject choice. 

“We hope this report is a wake-up call ahead of the government implementing its ambitious agenda to reform technical and further education, which was laid out in the Skills for Jobs White Paper.”

Dr Luke Sibieta, Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies and co-author of the report, said: “The subjects and courses young people take at age 16 can have a large bearing on their future economic opportunities.

“Tackling these cumulative barriers requires a focus on what happens before age 16, including addressing inequalities in educational attainment, earlier provision of effective careers guidance and positive role models.”