How has the cost of living crisis impacted the career choices of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women in Lancashire

This paper explores how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting the career choices of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women in Lancashire, with a particular focus on South Asian women. Through qualitive insights, small-scale research, and regional data analysis, it identified how cultural expectations, family responsibilities, and economic pressures intersect to shape employment decisions.

Key findings reveal that rising living costs force many BME women to prioritise flexible, low-paid roles or take on side hustles, often influenced by family and cultural norms. Traditional expectations – such as caregiving roles, restricted mobility, and gendered career perceptions – continue to limit their opportunities for professional development and financial independence.

The report highlights systemic barriers, including a lack of ethnicity disaggregated employment data, insufficient transparency in government funding, and limited culturally sensitive support systems. Addressing these challenges requires early interventions, such as education programmes that challenge gender stereotypes from primary school level, alongside policies tailored to the cultural contexts of BME communities.

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