Workers from poorer backgrounds face increased disadvantages in top jobs, research reveals

Workers from poorer backgrounds are facing a triple disadvantage at work, research from Queen Mary University of London and the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) found. 

The study found that those from less privileged backgrounds were not only less likely to get into top professions, but also earned less and had worse working conditions than their wealthier peers, even when doing the same jobs. 

The research also showed lower scores for promotion prospects, job complexity, workload, and relationships with managers and colleagues for workers from poorer backgrounds.

Additionally, the study found these issues were present across different sectors. 

People from lower socio-economic backgrounds were more likely to be found in IT and engineering, which tend to offer better working conditions. 

Workers from wealthier backgrounds were more likely to be in finance and law, where job quality is often lower. 

Even in the same profession, the study found that workers from less privileged backgrounds still had poorer job quality.

Mark Williams, from the centre for research in equality and diversity at Queen Mary University of London, said: “This research shows that workers from lower socio-economic backgrounds face a triple penalty.