Skills and Employment
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:
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:
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:
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
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:
Work Quality Indicators
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
Sector Skills research
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.
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.