Navigating the Labyrinth

Navigating the labyrinth: Socio-economic background and career progression within the Civil Service.

The Social Mobility Commission’s Navigating the Labyrinth provides evidence that socio-economic background influences career progression within the Civil Service, including access to networks, opportunities and the informal knowledge that can support advancement. The findings also indicate that socio-economic background does not operate independently of other characteristics, with experiences of progression shaped by intersecting factors, including race. 

This evidence is relevant to Black Ocean Citizens’ mission to address systemic  barriers affecting ethnically minoritised communities within marine and fisheries stewardship, governance and research. It suggests that inequalities in representation and progression within sectors cannot necessarily be understood through ethnicity alone. Socio-economic background may influence access to education, professional networks, career opportunities and routes into leadership alongside racialised barriers.

Reference: HM Government. Social Mobility Commission May 2021. Socio-economic background and career progression within the Civil Service. See: Social Mobility Commission