Roots to mobility: The social mobility of Britain's black population, 1971–87

The social mobility of Britain's Afro‐Caribbean and Asian populations is an under‐researched topic. Extant studies are briefly described before new data are presented from two sources which have been little used in this context. The Labour Force Survey and Longitudinal Study allow an outline description of aggregate and individual social mobility during the 1970s and 1980s. These data suggest that, although members of certain ethnic groups are gaining social mobility, in aggregate the groups have failed to gain parity with the white population.