According to new research by Just Like Us, the charity for LGBT+ young people, just under one in five (19%) of those surveyed reported that they had experienced bullying in the workplace compared to 14% of non-LGBT+ young adults.

In the survey of 3,695 young people aged 18 to 25, gay men and asexual young adults within this age range were the most likely to say they had been bullied at work (23%).

Of the LGBT+ young adults who took part, 14% said they rarely, if ever, felt able to be themselves at work. This figure jumped to 20% for transgender respondents.

Transgender young adults were also the least likely to be employed, with 56% saying they did not have a job. The most likely to be employed were gay men (64%).

Of those who were employed, 38% said they worked full-time, compared to 44% of non-LGBT+ young adults. Those least likely to work full-time were those who identified as non-binary (25%) and transgender (29%).

Although there was huge variation in the salaries of those surveyed, overall, the researchers found that LGBT+ young adults made less than their non-LGBT+ counterparts.

Specifically, they found that 24% of LGBT+ young adults earned less than £19,999 per year, compared to 16% of those who were non-LGBT+. Asexual and lesbian young adults were the most likely to make £19,999 or less per year.

A third of LGBT+ women (31%) earned less than £19,999, compared to 25% of those who identified as non-binary and 17% of LGBT+ men. Of all LGBT+ identities, asexual people and lesbians were the most likely to earn less than £19,999 (34% and 33% respectively).

The data gathered as part of the survey will form part of a new report called “Positive Futures”, due to be published by the charity on 1 June.

Rachel Ellis, regional manager for Thompsons, commented: “These results show a clear disparity in treatment at work of those who have an LGBT+ identity and those who don’t. The challenge is how this is to be addressed to achieve equality in the workplace. Tory governments since 2010 have shown little to no inclination to address the experiences of discrimination of LGBT+ people at work. A future Labour government must do better, and we look forward to seeing their plans for supporting equality for LGBT+ people at work."

To read the survey results in full, click here.