Use of the Training and Employment Agency's Services by the Chinese Community in Northern Ireland

Author(s): Seamus Dunn
Commissioned by: Training and Employment Agnecy
Document Type: Report
Year: 1998
Publisher: Training and Employment Agency
Place of Publication: Belfast
Subject Area(s): Education, Training
Client Group(s) : Minority Ethnic Groups

Abbreviations: T&EA - Training and Employment Agency

Background to the Research

  • In relation specifically to ethnic minorities the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 refers to the need for training facilities and opportunities. To help it ensure that it meets its obligations in relation to minorities, the T&EA was anxious to identify the training and employment needs of ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland and to be clear about ways in which it might effectively meet these needs.
  • More specifically, this investigation looked at the needs of the Chinese community in relation to:
    • Awareness of the T&EA's services;
    • The extent to which current services meet needs;
    • The ease or difficulty encountered in accessing services;
    • Implications for the T&EA planning and monitoring;
    • Future development of T&EA policy in relation to the needs of ethnic minority groups.

Research Approach

  • The methodology used included individual interviews, focus groups and the active participation of a steering committee that included representatives of ethnic minority community organisations, the Northern Ireland Commission for Racial Equality, and T&EA officials.

Main Findings

  • T&EA officials are conscious that there are cultural differences between the Chinese community and other groups in Northern Ireland. They are also aware that these may affect the training and employment needs of members of the Chinese community. Currently there are no clear models for the design and implementation of policies to address these issues.
  • Chinese community representatives raised similar issues in relation to the distinctiveness of the cultural and social structures in the Chinese community. They also highlighted the language problems which some members of the community experience.
  • There is only limited awareness within the Chinese community of the existence of the T&EA and of the services it provides. In particular there is a need to target information to:
    • Young people about to enter the labour market;
    • Parents whose children are making career decisions;
    • Middle-aged people who may wish to move from the catering industry;
    • Women with young children.
  • There is a spectrum of different expectations, needs and priorities within the Chinese community. These are linked primarily to age and gender. For example, lack of appropriate child care makes it difficult for some women to access training and employment. Not all needs are currently being met.
  • Even when people know what the T&EA provides and believe that it may be relevant to their needs, they may still face problems in actually using services. Language problems were a major concern and may deter people from seeking information or even entering T&EA offices.
  • Meeting the needs of the Chinese community more effectively will involve planning and interagency co-operation. Whilst the T&EA itself will be able to take practical steps in some areas, for example in providing literature in Chinese, other issues will require longer term planning and interaction with other government departments and agencies in the public, voluntary and private sectors concerned with education, training and employment and social provision.
  • The study has highlighted the complex and evolving nature of the needs of ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland. In order to develop and help it refine its policies and services, the T&EA will need to put in place a system for monitoring the needs of ethnic minorities and evaluating the delivery of the T&EA's services to these groups.

Recommendations

  • There is a clear need to consider how to overcome language barriers. This might be best considered in the first instance by regional managers in discussion with the Policy Equality Unit. One way forward might be to establish a pilot project.
  • A number of marketing and Public Relation issues affecting communication require more detailed consideration.
  • There is a need to review the range of provision of careers advice to ethnic minorities.
  • The question of childcare is of great importance. It would be useful to create a context within which ethnic minorities are able to articulate their needs in detail, and from this to help plan how these needs may be satisfied.

 

Home | About ORB | Contact


Disclaimer: © ORB 2001Monday, 28-Jul-2003 15:51