About this event

How have the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown measures affected the economic well-being of BAME and migrant groups vis-à-vis their white, non-migrant counterparts in the UK? Analysing nationwide data from the Understanding Society COVID-19 survey, I examine intersecting ethnic and migrant divides in the economic impact of COVID-19 on people’s labour force participation, work time, income loss, and financial hardship. I explore the extent to which intersecting ethnic-migrant divides are explained by baseline vulnerabilities of BAME and migrant groups, such as mode of employment, socio-economic status, and human capital. My research reveals considerable ethnic-migrant divides in the economic impact of the pandemic, net of people’s baseline vulnerabilities. It suggests that the pandemic has exacerbated ethnic and migrant-native disparities in economic well-being. The findings underline the imperative of placing racial justice at the centre of policy developments in response to the pandemic. Registration details available soon.