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Vinson Kurian

Thiruvananthapuram , Sept 5

INDIANS in Britain have the highest employment rates among Asians, as per the newly released Census 2001 figures.

A spokesman of the Global Association of People of Indian Origin (Gopio) informed Business Line that, in terms of economic activities, the Asian component of British population presents varying profiles. In the Indian group, for instance, 46.4 per cent of men aged between 16 and 74 are full time employees, 14.3 per cent are self-employed and 4.5 per cent are unemployed, which more or less corresponds to the overall average for England and Wales.

The Gopio quoted census figures further revealing that Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have much lower employment rates: only 31 per cent of Pakistani men aged between 16 and 74 are full time employees, 14.2 per cent self-employed, and 9.1 per cent unemployed. The corresponding figures for Bangladeshi men are 23.1 per cent full time employees, 9 per cent self-employed and 10.2 per cent unemployed. The census points out that British Indians are, on average, slightly better off than Britons, but there is relatively high inequality within the group, particularly among women.

Only recently had the British Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, observed that Indians in Britain "had broken through the glass ceiling through their enterprise, innovations and aspirations". Britain is home for many Indian immigrants and an estimated 1.5 million Indian community (NRI/PIO) live in Britain.

In terms of education, it has emerged more successful than any other ethnic groups. Their contribution to the British economy is massive and they are the highest taxpayers.

The success of people of Indian origin living and working in Britain becomes more evident every time the Asian Who's who International is published. There are over 393,000 Indians in London who make up a sixth of the capital's population and includes 1,71,000 who were born in India. London has an estimated 13,000 Indian businesses that make a major contribution to the economy, including in the IT sectors.

The Indians have been living in UK since the 17th century. As a percentage of total population in UK, Indians now constitute more than 1.5 per cent. The UK is India's largest trading partner in Europe and its second largest in the world. In the last 10 years, the bilateral trade has almost doubled to £5 billion. Last year, the Indians bagged 60 per cent of the UK info tech work permits.

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`Indians have the highest job rates among Asians in UK'

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