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  • Skills and Employment

    Topics:
    • Statistics and economic research

    This page presents research which covers a wide range of issues around both the demand for and supply of skills in Northern Ireland. In addition to work carried out by the department, it includes results from the Skills Barometer, the Employer Skills Survey, information on Good Jobs, analysis of work quality indicators, reviews undertaken by the OECD and wider economic research.

    Good Jobs

    Following engagement with a range of stakeholders, the Department adopted the Carnegie Framework as a broader measure of work quality while focussing on a subset of indicators to track progress against the Good Jobs Agenda.  This Framework, identifies seven dimensions of job quality:

    • Terms of employment;
    • Pay and benefits;
    • Health, safety and psychosocial wellbeing;
    • Job design and the nature of work;
    • Social support and cohesion;
    • Voice and representation; and
    • Work life balance.

    In 2024, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) was commissioned to develop a 'good jobs' measure in line with the Economy Minister’s four economic priorities. The economic priority of ‘good jobs’ aims to increase the proportion of the working age population in good jobs in Northern Ireland.

    The Department will work to progress all seven dimensions, however the initial focus will be on the development of a measure which will monitor three areas which are fundamental to all jobs:

    • a permanent contract
    • a non-zero hour contract
    • earning the Real Living Wage or above.

    The measure will be monitored over time to see how the proportion of jobs which meet the criteria of a ‘good job’ changes:

    • Good Jobs in Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

    Qualifications

    Labour Force Survey annual tables

    The Labour Force Survey Annual Tables 2023 produced by NISRA includes data on qualifications in Northern Ireland. It covers the qualification level of people aged 16 to 64 broken down by factors such as sex, LDG and deprivation quintile. This information supports policy development across NI:

    • Labour Force Survey annual tables 2023 - NISRA website

    Highest qualification and participation in education and training

    The Highest qualification and participation in education and training 2023 report by NISRA includes data on the participation rate in education and training of people aged 16 to 64 broken down by factors such as age, sex, disability and highest qualification level held. Also included is data on attainment levels of qualifications Level 2 and above and Level 3 and above. This is broken down by factors such as local government district (LGD), age, sex and disability status. These insights help track progress in educational attainment across different regions and groups within NI:

    • Highest qualification and participation in education and training 2023 - NISRA website

    Skills Barometer

    Report providing a detailed understanding of the skill requirements for the Northern Ireland economy:

    • Skills Barometer 2023 - 2033
    • Skills Barometer 2021
    • Skills Barometer 2019
    • Skills Barometer 2017
    • Skills Barometer 2015

    Sub-Regional Skills Barometer

    • Sub-Regional Skills Barometer 2019

    Skills and Employment Survey 2024

    The overarching aim of the Skills and Employment Survey (SES) is to collect robust survey data on the skills and employment experiences of people working in the UK. The series consists of eight surveys of workers that stretches back over almost 40 years. These cross-sectional surveys provide the means to chart and explain the changing pattern of job quality and skills over time.

    The SES is a national study of around 5,500 adults aged 20-65 years old in paid employment and focuses on the work that people do and how working life has changed over time in the UK. The data has been collected via face-to-face and online interviews.  Approximately 500 workers have been surveyed in Northern Ireland (NI) and this is the first time that NI has participated in this survey since 2006.

    The survey will offer a unique worker-level assessment on a number of themes related to the Good Jobs agenda such as work conditions, trade union activity, pay, job security, flexibility, work intensity, artificial intelligence and meaningful work.

    Eight UK-wide thematic reports have been published covering the following topics:

    • How Common is Workplace Abuse?
    • What is Happening to Participation at Work?
    • Has the Tide Turned for Trade Unions?
    • What Makes Work Meaningful?
    • What drives AI and robot adoption?
    • Is the job quality gender gap narrowing?
    • Are skill requirements on the rise?
    • Is the office dying?

    You can see the reports at:

    • Skills and Employment Survey 2024

    Work Quality Indicators

    • Work Quality Indicators

    Qualifications in Northern Ireland

    • Qualifications in Northern Ireland

    Employer surveys

    Published employer surveys are listed below:

    • Employer Skills Survey 2022
    • Employer Skills Survey 2019
    • Employer Skills Survey 2017
    • Employer Perspectives Survey 2016
    • Employer Skills Survey 2015
    • Employer Perspectives Survey 2014
    • Employer Skills Survey 2013

    Job posting trends

    • Monthly online job posting factsheets

    Sector Skills research

    • Transitioning to a greener economy – a skills perspective

    International skills assessments

    Here is international research published on skills in Northern Ireland:

    • OECD Review: Employment and Skills Strategies in Northern Ireland
    • OECD Review: Skills Beyond School
    • Northern Ireland Skills Base: International Benchmarking Report Card
    • International Survey of Adult Skills 2012
    • Management Matters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
    • The Strategic Integration of Skills and Innovation Policy in Northern Ireland

    Skills and qualifications

    Published projects concerning skills and qualifications are listed below:

    • Benchmarking Contracted Training Programmes in Northern Ireland
    • Economic, Labour Market and Skills Impacts of Migrant Workers in Northern Ireland
    • Influence of Graduate Qualifications on Average Wages and Productivity
    • International Trends in Occupational Forecasting and Skills Research: How Does Northern Ireland Compare?
    • All-island Skills Study
    • Towards a Skills Assessment Framework for Northern Ireland: A Sectoral Performance Approach
    • Northern Ireland Executive Recruitment Watch Survey 2007
    • Skills at Work in Northern Ireland 2006

    Higher and further education

    Published projects on higher and further education are found below:

    • Factors Contributing to Student Outcomes in Northern Ireland FE Colleges - an econometric analysis
    • The economic impact of Higher Education on the Northern Ireland economy
    • The economic impact of Northern Ireland’s FE sector on the Economy
    • Removing the Barriers to Learning: Exploring Adult Perceptions and Attitudes to Participation in Further Education
    • Impact of Variable Tuition Fees and Student Support Arrangements in Northern Ireland
    • Graduate Earnings: An econometric analysis of returns, inequality and deprivation across the UK Main Report and Summary
    • Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction Surveys
    • Staying the Course: An econometric analysis of the characteristics most associated with student attrition beyond the first year of Higher Education

    Labour force participation

    Publications on labour force participation are found below:

    • Labour Mobility in Northern Ireland
    • Addressing Gender Balance - Reaping the Gender Dividend in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
    • Economic Inactivity: Literature Review
    • Promoting Investment and Increasing Employment among the Economically Inactive: A Review of Best Practice
    • Best Practice in Inter-agency Co-operation on Employability
    • Education, Occupational Class and Unemployment in the UK Regions

    Futuretrack surveys

    • Futuretrack Northern Ireland: Key Findings from the Futuretrack Stage 3 Survey
    • Futuretrack Northern Ireland: Key Findings from the Futuretrack Stage 1 Survey

    Ad hoc analysis

    Publications on ad hoc analysis below:

    • Closing the Skills Gap
    • Young People inequalities in the Northern Ireland skills system
    • Differences in Education, Training and Labour Market by sex, Northern Ireland
    • IT workers job advertisement analysis
    • IT sector future supply analysis

    Barriers to education

    The Department for the Economy produces bespoke social research on topics related to the economy and skills. These can be accessed below.

    • Barriers to participation and progression in education - evidence review

    International Literacy and Skills Research

    The department has commissioned a number of research projects to inform on the 'Literacy' levels amongst the adult population of Northern Ireland. 'Literacy' in this context refers to literacy and numeracy skill levels.

    • International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS)
    • International Survey of Adult Skills (ISAS)

     

     

    Related content

    • de minimis aid
    • Departmental written assembly questions statistics
    • Higher Level Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland at HEIs Statistical Fact Sheets
    • Monthly online job posting factsheets
    • Research Digests
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