Applicants to the Civil Service Fast Stream from ethnic minority backgrounds and lower socio-economic backgrounds were less likely to be successful this year despite making up a significant proportion of applicants.
In March, then-Cabinet Office permanent secretary Alex Chisholm said the scheme had “become much better at inviting people from lots of different backgrounds, different communities”.
However, this year’s stats show a growing gap in several diversity metrics.
In 2023, people from ethnic minorities accounted for 30% of successful applicants. This year, they represented just 22% of those recommended for appointment, despite making up a bigger proportion of the total applicants: 36%, compared to 33% in 2023.
Conversely, those from a white background made up 78% of successful applicants this year, up from 70% in 2023, despite having dropped as a proportion of applicants from 67% to 64%.
The widening of the gap, which came amid a increase in applications, was starkest among those from a "Black or Black British – African" background, who applied in their highest numbers ever (4,108) this year. They made up 10% of all 2024 applicants, but just 1.5% of those chosen for recruitment: a 0.3% success rate.
Similarly, the data shows those from lower socio-economic backgrounds made up a bigger proportion of applicants than in previous years, but were less likely to be selected. Those who said their parents worked in “routine and manual” jobs accounted for 21% of applications submitted (compared to 20% in 2023), but just 12% of selected candidates – compared to 16% in 2023.
The stats also show a significant drop in representation of people eligible for free school meals and those who went to non-selective state schools – but in these cases among both overall and successful applicants.
Applications from those eligible for free school meals dropped from 34% of the total in 2023 to 24% in 2024. The proportion of candidates recommended for approval who are eligible for free school meals dropped from 22% to 16%.
The proportion of applications from non-selective state schools dropped from 65% to 59%. They made up 51% of those recommended for approval, down from 55%.
Institute for Government research assistant Teodor Grama shared his thoughts on the changes.
He said: “It's unclear what is driving the widening gap between application and success rates for ethnic minority applicants and those with a routine or manual social-economic background (i.e. a lower socio-economic background).
“It’s worth noting that the gap has increased this year compared to last year, which probably has something to do with the surge in interest. It is good news that Fast Stream applications have rebounded somewhat but it’s important that the government keeps assessing its recruitment practices so it gets the best people regardless of their background.”
On the other hand, the gap between applicants from a "lesbian/gay/bisexual/other" background and their heterosexual counterparts narrowed. LGBO applicants made up 28% of those recommended for appointment, compared to 21% in 2023 – having made up 18% of total applicants both years.
In other diversity stats, women made up 54% of applicants and 50% of those recommended for appointment; and 20% of successful candidates declared a disability, having made up 16% of applicants.
A government spokesperson said: "Our goal is to attract diverse talent and reinforce the civil service as a workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive and succeed."