A larger proportion of Jews are in professional and higher managerial jobs than any other religious group in England and Wales, according to newly released data from the 2011 Census.

The Jewish community also has the lowest percentage of long-term unemployed.

According to the Census statistics, 9.9 per cent of the population in England and Wales occupy professional and higher managerial and administrative roles, while the long-term unemployed rate is 1.5 per cent.

But the percentage of Jews in better-paid jobs is more than twice the national average at 19.1 per cent, while the long-term unemployed comprise only 0.08 per cent.

Hindus follow with 17.1 per cent in professional and higher managerial roles.

David Graham, research fellow at the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, commented: “Exactly the same pattern was seen in the 2001 census data on religion and this is the interesting point — that the positions have not changed.

“What has changed is that a higher proportion of Jews are in the top category, 19.2 per cent up from 17.1 per cent in 2001. He added: “I strongly suspect that education is the underlying cause of these patterns.

Shraga Zaltzman, managing director of TrainE-TraidE, a Jewish non-profit organisation helping people obtain employment opportunities, attributed Jewish success to “a strong work ethic” and a willingness to push hard for higher-up managerial positions”.