ETHNIC minorities face “significant barriers” when seeking employment and developing a career, MSPs warned yesterday.

A six-month inquiry by Holyrood’s equal opportunities committee found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be unemployed or in low-paid work, despite performing better academically than white Scots.

The committee’s report concluded that the situation was “not acceptable” and that members were “extremely concerned to hear of how discrimination and lack of access to opportunities are holding back many talented and committed individuals.”

MSPs called on the Scottish government to take action “to tackle discrimination and promote diversity in Scotland,” and address “segregation” in employment.

Holyrood should use public procurement to ensure under-represented groups get better opportunities, set up equality targets and raise greater awareness of racial equality in the workplace, said the committee.

Convener Margaret McCulloch warned that if the Scottish government failed to act now it would risk “placing an ‘ethnic penalty’ on Scotland’s young people.”

The Labour MSP added: “Without confronting existing practices, we cannot address any underlying racism and discrimination that the evidence confirms exists.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman welcomed the report, saying Holyrood was committed to “eradicating” barriers to training or employment based on race and religion.

But Hope not Hate Scotland vice-chair Simon Steel warned that “attacks on jobs, services and housing are likely to compound existing inequalities.”

Mr Steel said that women from ethnic minority backgrounds were likely to face higher workplace discrimination, calling for further action to address this.