Air travel and entertainment job industries boast highest LGB+ representation, data shows
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New data from the 2021 England and Wales census has revealed that the air travel, entertainment, and theme park job industries have the highest levels of LGB+ representation in the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) conducted the census, which was the first to include questions about sexual orientation in the workplace. The findings showed that at least one in ten people in these industries identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or another minority sexual orientation.
The top industry with the highest LGB+ representation was air travel, with 13.7% of air travel assistants identifying as LGB+. A spokesperson for the International Association of Flight Attendants commented on this finding, highlighting that the airline industry allows individuals to “live and work as their authentic selves.” They emphasized the long history of LGBTQ+ flight attendants working together to secure job protections and benefits for LGBTQ+ workers.
Other occupations with high LGB+ representation include coffee shop workers (10.8%), artists (9.8%), bar staff (9.4%), writers (8.9%), and arts producers or directors (9.3%). These figures were analyzed by the PA news agency based on data from the census.
On the other end of the spectrum, jobs with the lowest LGB+ representation included window cleaners (0.7%), bricklayers (0.6%), scaffolders (0.6%), and farmers (0.6%). These occupations had less than one in 100 employees identifying as LGB+. The president of Britain’s National Farmers’ Union, Minette Batters, expressed a commitment to promoting inclusivity and supporting rural LGBTQ+ diversity.
While there was a small percentage of employees across all occupations who chose not to disclose their sexual orientation, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) highlighted the need for employers to take action to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. CIPD’s research has shown that a significant number of LGB+ employees face harassment and discrimination at work.
Jill Miller, the diversity and inclusion policy adviser at CIPD, emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive organizational culture where there is equality of opportunity and outcomes for all. She also noted that public and voluntary sector employers were more likely than private sector employers to focus on queer diversity and inclusion in the past five years.
The lack of LGB+ representation in certain industries can be attributed to various factors, including cultures of discrimination or social exclusion, as well as barriers to entry or progression. The data from the census serves as a reminder for employers to take steps towards improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in their workplaces.
In conclusion, the recent census data highlights the air travel, entertainment, and theme park job industries as having the highest levels of LGB+ representation in the UK. The findings underscore the importance of creating inclusive workplaces that value diversity and provide equal opportunities for all employees. With this data in hand, employers are encouraged to take action to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in their respective industries.
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“Representation in air travel and entertainment jobs”
