A crucial topic that is often overlooked and close to my heart is social mobility. It's the key to unlocking hidden talent from all walks of life and making sure everyone gets an equal shot at success.

What is social mobility?

Social mobility refers to change in a person's socio-economic situation, either in relation to their parents (inter-generational mobility) or throughout their lifetime (intra-generational mobility). Social mobility is linked to equality of opportunity, as people from disadvantaged backgrounds have fewer opportunities to climb the socio-economic ladder. Social mobility allows people to break free from the circumstances of their birth to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.

What factors hinder upward social mobility?

While no single indicator determines social immobility, several common factors often come into play:

🎓 Education plays a pivotal role, with limited access to quality education and lower completion rates at prestigious institutions contributing to the cycle.

💼 Parents' occupations further exacerbate social immobility, particularly if they are engaged in low-skilled jobs with limited career advancement prospects and lack professional networks.

💰 Family income and financial resources also play a part, as they affect access to extracurricular activities and educational resources.

🌍 Geography becomes a barrier when individuals reside in poorer neighbourhoods, which often means they lack access to essential resources and opportunities.

🗣️ The social network plays a crucial role, as limited exposure to diverse networks and a lack of professional mentors and role models hinders personal and professional growth.

🚪Limited access to internships, job placements and networking events all impact career development, as individuals face obstacles in obtaining relevant work experience and opportunities for skill development.

🎨 Cultural capital is key, as exposure to cultural and educational experiences is associated with upward mobility. Conversely, a lack of familiarity with the social norms and expectations prevalent in professional environments hinders progress further.

The cumulative impact of these factors reinforces the barriers to social mobility for many individuals.

What impact does social immobility have?

Let's dive into the numbers. In many countries, children from lower-income backgrounds face educational disadvantages — just 23% of students from low-income backgrounds complete a bachelor's degree, compared to 55% of their wealthier peers. What’s more, they are also less likely to secure high-paying jobs and often face barriers in career advancement.

The income gap is a significant hurdle to social mobility. In the UK, research shows that professionals from working-class backgrounds are paid £6,291 (12%) less per year than those from more privileged backgrounds. This effectively means they work one out of every eight days for free, despite working in the same occupation.

What steps can employers take to combat class inequality in the workplace?

Social mobility is not just a buzzword; it's a pathway to unleashing untapped potential. By understanding the challenges and embracing change, we can create workplaces where talent knows no bounds. But how do you as an employer begin to break down those barriers?

🤝 Diverse recruitment: Shifting recruitment strategies or using diverse agencies, such as Unify, to focus on skills rather than academic qualifications can help bridge the gap. Studies show that diverse teams are 1.7x more innovative and diverse leadership teams outperform competitors financially by 33%.

🎓 Education: Investing in educational programs for underserved communities can be a game-changer. Scholarships, internships and mentorship programs all create opportunities for under-represented talent. Mentorships not only boost confidence, but also open doors, as companies that encourage mentorship programs can create a supportive environment for talent to thrive.

How can unify help?

At unify, we are dedicated to enhancing workplace diversity by actively promoting the inclusion of underrepresented groups in our recruitment process. We achieve this by guaranteeing that most candidates featured in every unify shortlist come from diverse backgrounds. Get in touch to learn more.