Training bosses have called for action after a new report warned the under-representation of lower social groups and ethnic minorities in journalism is “likely” to continue.

The report, published by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, has revealed the industry’s continued reliance on graduates and claimed the policy “could be acting against attempts to increase some aspects of diversity”.

The report’s publication has prompted the NCTJ to call for publishers to recruit more from “non-graduate entry points” and urge the higher education sector to recruit a “more diverse intake” to its accredited journalism courses.

The report, authored by research consultant Mark Spilsbury and based on 2020 Labour Force Survey data, found the number of working journalists in the UK which is estimated at 96,000, an increase of 18,000 over the 2018 level of 78,000.

But it also revealed journalists are more likely to come from households where a parent works or worked in a higher-level occupation, described as “one of the key determinants of social class”.

Three-quarters of journalists had a parent in one of the three highest occupational groups, compared to 45pc of all UK workers.

Mark, pictured, wrote in the report: “Less than one in ten have a parent in the lowest two occupations compared to 20pc of all workers.

“It is also notable the relative low proportion of journalists who have parents in the skilled trades occupations at 12pc compares to 22pc for all those in work.”

Mark concluded there did not appear to be underlying changes in the proportions of journalists coming from BAME groups or from lower social groups.

However, he found an increasing continuation of the trend for the increasing proportion of women journalists, as well as journalists being on average younger and having higher levels of qualifications.

Mark wrote: “The continuing increase in the ‘graduatisation’ of journalism could be acting against attempts to increase some aspects of diversity.

“Entrants to higher education are not themselves representative of the wider population.

“To the extent that journalism continues to increasingly recruit from a pool which is itself under-representative of BAME and lower social groups, it is likely that under-representation will continue.”

The report was presented to 33 media employers at an NCTJ forum on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “The headline result for the NCTJ in this really useful report is that under-representation of diverse groups in journalism and reliance on graduates continues.

“We need to do more to encourage and support those diverse groups into journalism, promote alternative, non-graduate entry points and encourage employers to recruit from this talent pool.

“Apprenticeships, foundation courses and initiatives like the Community News Project are becoming even more important.

“At the same time, we will encourage those who share our values in the higher education sector to recruit a more diverse intake and to offer NCTJ-accredited courses and qualifications.”