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Professions 'reserved for rich' | Professions 'reserved for rich' |
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Top professions such as medicine and law are increasingly being closed off to all but the most affluent families, a report into social mobility has said. | Top professions such as medicine and law are increasingly being closed off to all but the most affluent families, a report into social mobility has said. |
Former minister Alan Milburn has chaired a study for the prime minister on widening access to high-status jobs. | Former minister Alan Milburn has chaired a study for the prime minister on widening access to high-status jobs. |
He says young people in England should have access to much better careers advice to boost their ambitions. | He says young people in England should have access to much better careers advice to boost their ambitions. |
Mr Milburn told the BBC: "We have raised the glass ceiling but I don't think we have broken through it yet." | Mr Milburn told the BBC: "We have raised the glass ceiling but I don't think we have broken through it yet." |
He said the professions had a "closed shop mentality" and "have become more and not less exclusive over time". | He said the professions had a "closed shop mentality" and "have become more and not less exclusive over time". |
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Milburn called for "a second great wave of social mobility" like that of the 1950s and 1960s to match a projected growth in the number of managerial jobs. | Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Milburn called for "a second great wave of social mobility" like that of the 1950s and 1960s to match a projected growth in the number of managerial jobs. |
"It's not that Britain doesn't have talent, to coin a phrase - Britain has lots of talent," he added. | "It's not that Britain doesn't have talent, to coin a phrase - Britain has lots of talent," he added. |
We have a country in which a former circus manager's son, John Major, became prime minister - don't talk about glass ceilings Quentin LettsDaily Mail Closing the opportunity gaps Move to widen student talent pool City reaches out to young talent | |
"What we have got to do is open up these opportunities so they are available for everybody." | "What we have got to do is open up these opportunities so they are available for everybody." |
But speaking to BBC News, Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts said Mr Milburn was presenting an "Edwardian" view of the class system. | But speaking to BBC News, Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts said Mr Milburn was presenting an "Edwardian" view of the class system. |
"If you only brought back selection into state schools and you had grammar schools again and you had a decent education system, people would be able to power though this," Mr Letts added. | "If you only brought back selection into state schools and you had grammar schools again and you had a decent education system, people would be able to power though this," Mr Letts added. |
"We have a country in which a former circus manager's son, John Major, became prime minister - don't talk about glass ceilings." | |
'Surrogate pushy parent' | 'Surrogate pushy parent' |
Writing in the Times newspaper, Mr Milburn also says he agrees with the Tories that parental choice should be extended and schools should be subject to greater competition. | Writing in the Times newspaper, Mr Milburn also says he agrees with the Tories that parental choice should be extended and schools should be subject to greater competition. |
The wide-ranging study by an independent panel of experts, Fair Access to the Professions, calls for more equal opportunities in education and employment. | |
SOCIAL MOBILITY REPORT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_07_09_fair_access.pdf">Final Report on Fair Access to the Professions class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_07_09_fair_access_summary.pdf">Summary and recommendations href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
BBC home editor Mark Easton says it calls for the state to act as "a surrogate pushy parent", matching the advantages given by ambitious, articulate families. | BBC home editor Mark Easton says it calls for the state to act as "a surrogate pushy parent", matching the advantages given by ambitious, articulate families. |
It wants to raise the aspirations of more young people to have the expectations of professional families, giving them confidence when making decisions about university and jobs. | It wants to raise the aspirations of more young people to have the expectations of professional families, giving them confidence when making decisions about university and jobs. |
The report warns that people entering careers such as medicine, law and journalism are increasingly likely to be from more affluent families. | The report warns that people entering careers such as medicine, law and journalism are increasingly likely to be from more affluent families. |
Currently 75% of judges and 45% of senior civil servants are privately educated. | |
The report does not only focus on the poorest part of the population - but suggests that many middle-income families are also missing out in an increasingly polarised jobs market. | The report does not only focus on the poorest part of the population - but suggests that many middle-income families are also missing out in an increasingly polarised jobs market. |
It also criticises informal recruitment systems, such as internships and work placement, as becoming a back-door for better-off, better-connected youngsters. | |
Its recommendations include: | |
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But the report suggests that much more needs to be done on university admissions - with fears that the university system can reinforce disadvantage rather than reduce it. | |
With a high proportion of new jobs being classified as professional or managerial, the report emphasises the importance of ensuring fair access. | With a high proportion of new jobs being classified as professional or managerial, the report emphasises the importance of ensuring fair access. |
Business Minister Pat McFadden welcomed the report, which he said provided "a welcome and rigorous examination of where we have done well and where we have fallen short". | Business Minister Pat McFadden welcomed the report, which he said provided "a welcome and rigorous examination of where we have done well and where we have fallen short". |
He added: "We share the aim of the report's authors - to enhance the life chances of every young person regardless of their background or income." | He added: "We share the aim of the report's authors - to enhance the life chances of every young person regardless of their background or income." |