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The UK is losing its black talent The other week I went to the leaving party of a good friend. Afiyua is heading for a new career in Ghana, as a manager of a small charity that supports orphaned and vulnerable children living in Accra. What struck me about her departure, though, is just how many black Britons I know who have left the UK since the start of the recession. She had previously been searching for work in the UK; but cuts to the charity and not-for-profit sector meant that looking abroad was her only viable option. Noticing the trend, I did a quick survey of more than 100 black friends and contacts: and I was shocked to find that more than 70% said that, since 2008, they had either left the UK or seriously considered leaving. It seems we are losing black Britons, and this is not a good thing. What worries me most is that we seem to be losing highly educated people. Around 80% of those I questioned had first, second or even third degrees, and more than two-thirds were between 26 and 35 years old. These are skilled black people who were born and raised in British society. Can the UK really afford to lose skilled workers when what we are most in need of is economic growth? So why are they leaving? More than 60% said it was to escape the recession and seek business and job opportunities. But almost two thirds felt that the recession had affected ethnic minorities more than white Britons and 94% said the recession had affected them financially or career-wise. Figures revealed last weekend, showing that unemployment among young black men has doubled in the last three years, gave weight to their fears. According to the Office for National Statistics, more than half of Britain's young black men, and 39% of women, are jobless – more than twice the rate for young white people. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/17/uk-black-talent-leaving-recession I think this applies to all races, if offered a job elsewhere i would seriously consider going tbh. Them ones when you applying you dont even check london no more