A new study from the University of Kent reveals a troubling disparity in social mobility: Black Britons, even those from affluent families, are far more likely than their White counterparts to end up in working-class jobs.

The research shows that Black men from high-status households are three times more likely than their White peers to hold working-class roles by their 30s. For Black women, the likelihood is double that of White women. These trends persist even when accounting for national origin, pointing to systemic barriers that disproportionately affect Black families.

Career outcomes

Using data from the UK Labour Force Survey, the study analyzed the career outcomes of 8,000 individuals whose parents were professionals. It found that while White families are more likely to pass their privilege on to the next generation, Black families face structural hurdles that hinder their children’s prospects.

Educational attainment plays a key role, particularly for Black women, whose downward mobility is often linked to lower qualifications. However, the study found that Black men are at higher risk of falling down the social ladder regardless of education. In fact, Black men with similar qualifications as their White peers are four times more likely to land in working-class jobs.

“This research demonstrates that even when Black families achieve professional success, their children face a much higher chance of losing that status than privileged White families,” the researchers note. “Racial disparities in the UK labor market cannot be resolved by upward mobility alone.”

The findings underscore the need for targeted policies to dismantle barriers that Black Britons encounter in the job market—barriers that persist even for those with strong educational and socioeconomic foundations. Without such interventions, intergenerational racial inequalities in the UK will remain deeply entrenched.