Redcar and Cleveland Council reveal staff ‘not quite representative’

Only 1.5% of employees at Redcar and Cleveland Council identified themselves as being in an ethnic minority and only 3.5% said they had a disability.

The council conceded it was “not quite representative” of the borough’s non-white population in analysis of its workforce profile shared with resources scrutiny committee members.

Meanwhile, in terms of disabilities it said respondents were not asked to state a specific disability, but anecdotally it believed the percentage figure could be higher. 

According to the 2021 national census, 20.4% of the population in Redcar and Cleveland identified themselves as having a disability, approximately 30,000 people.

Comparisons of the workforce percentages between 2023 and 2025 showed there had been a slight uptick in ethnic minority representation, half a percent, while the proportion of employees stating they had a disability had not changed.

The council, the borough’s biggest employer, said it strived to remain welcoming and supportive of both potential and current employees.

A statement issued in response to the data said: “The council aims to ensure that its workforce is representative of the borough’s population through its recruitment process. 

“We receive applications from people from all backgrounds, including people with disabilities and from ethnic groups.

“The number of people from ethnic backgrounds in the borough has increased, but it remains one of the least ethnically diverse areas of the country and targets are not set for employing from any specific group. 

“However, arrangements are in place to ensure staff from various demographic groups receive any support they need, either individually or via established staff network groups, which include health and disability, racial equality and neurodiversity. 

“The council has also established armed forces liaison officers who work closely with disability services, including those for staff.”

The statement added: “While our data suggests that the number of staff formally recorded as having disabilities is below the position within the borough as a whole, we respect the privacy of our employees and do not require colleagues or applicants to state any disability.

“It is thought, from anecdotal evidence, that the real figure for staff is significantly higher than that reported.

“The issue of recruiting from under-represented groups forms part of the authority’s recruitment and selection policy which is regularly reviewed as the authority strives to remain welcoming and supportive to all employees and potential employees.”