A new analysis by think-tank Policy Exchange reveals that the Indian ethnic group has the highest concentration of professional workers in the UK. The report, titled ‘A Portrait of Modern Britain: Ethnicity and Religion’, highlights the growing complexity of ethnic diversity in the country, suggesting that treating all ethnic minorities as a single group for public policy is increasingly inadequate.

Highest home ownership rate too

The report calls for a new government-led national integration strategy that encourages British children to take pride in their national heritage while acknowledging the country’s diverse history and traditions. It notes that British Indians not only lead in professional roles but also have the highest home ownership rate, with 71% living in homes they either own outright or have a mortgage on.

The analysis warns that broad categories like 'South Asian' obscure significant economic and social differences among ethnic groups, such as Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. It argues that the diversity within these groups often goes unrecognised.

Using data from the 2021 UK Census and additional polling from Redfield and Wilton, the report includes responses from a representative sample of 2,000 people, alongside targeted samples of 1,400 ethnic minority respondents from groups including Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, and Mixed-Race communities.

Children should learn British history

Key findings show that 72% of those surveyed believe children should learn about British history with a sense of pride, and a majority view Britain as having been a force for good globally.

The report recommends that government agencies should break down larger, diverse ethnic categories to better understand the unique backgrounds of groups like Indian and Black African communities. 

Notably, the first Portrait of Modern Britain study was conducted in 2014 by Policy Exchange researchers, including Rishi Sunak, who later became the UK's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage and is currently the interim Opposition Leader in Parliament.