An academic study has uncovered a “promotion penalty” applied against individuals from Asian backgrounds, including those who speak English fluently, in Australia’s federal civil service.
Because the APS plays a pivotal role in shaping Australia’s policies and delivering essential services, it is expected to represent the diversity of the Australian population.
The findings: Over the past two decades, approximately 96% of executive-level promotions have been awarded to staff from English-speaking backgrounds. Staff from English-speaking backgrounds are shown to be 70% more likely than those from non-English-speaking backgrounds (NESB) to reach executive roles, with a 30% increased likelihood for promotions to senior analysts and a 40% increased likelihood for management roles.
The results show the APS has disproportionately favored individuals with Anglo, Celtic or European names in promotions. Individuals of Asian heritage, even if they speak English fluently and have lived in the country since early childhood, are much less likely to be promoted than those of European heritage.
The study also emphasizes that Asian-born individuals from NESB who arrive in Australia after the age of 5 face more challenging promotion prospects as compared to their non-Asian NESB counterparts arriving at a similar age. Asian-born NESBs who arrive before the…
Read the full article here