Northern Ireland Labour Market Statistics: Good Jobs in Northern Ireland 2025
Date published:
Good Jobs in Northern Ireland 2025 was published today by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA).
This analysis provides the proportion of good jobs in Northern Ireland from 2017 to 2025 with the focus on the following key cohorts; sex, age, work pattern, local government district, industry sector, occupation, and priority sector. Commentary on the latest release is provided below.
Introduction
In 2024, the Economy Minister announced that the Department for the Economy (DfE) would adopt the Carnegie Framework as its definition of Good Jobs, which focuses on seven dimensions of job quality identified by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Whilst it is recognised that job quality is broad and multi-dimensional, particular focus has been given to three aspects of job quality to measure progress against the Department’s Good Jobs objective. To capture these aspects, NISRA was commissioned by DfE to develop a Good Jobs Measure for Northern Ireland.
For the purposes of this measure and the analysis in this publication a “good job” is one which meets the following requirements:
- A permanent contract; and
- A non zero-hour contract; and
- Earning the Real Living Wage or more.
This analysis provides the percentage of jobs in Northern Ireland that meet the criteria set by DfE. The measure relates to employees aged between 16 and 64 and has been derived from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
The rate of good jobs in Northern Ireland has fallen from the peak in 2022
The rate of good jobs in Northern Ireland stood at 69.0% in 2025, marking a 1.9 percentage point (pps) drop from its peak in 2022.
The percentage of good jobs in Northern Ireland showed a steady increase from 2017 to 2022, rising from 63.4% to 70.9%. In 2023, the good jobs rate decreased slightly by 0.4pps, followed in 2024 by a 3.1pps drop. 2025 saw the good jobs rate recovering with an increase of 1.5pps to 69.0% (not statistically significant).
It should be noted that public sector pay awards were made following the ASHE 2025 reference date and are therefore not included in the 2025 results.
Notable differences emerged when analysing key cohorts
When comparing by Local Government District (LGD), Belfast has the highest proportion of good jobs in Northern Ireland, with nearly three-quarters of all jobs in the city classified as good (74.8%). In contrast, the Causeway Coast and Glens area has the lowest proportion of good jobs, with just over half of jobs meeting the criteria (58.6%). With a good jobs rate of 74.8% and 70.8% respectively, Belfast and, Antrim and Newtownabbey are the only two LGD’s where the good jobs rate exceeds the Northern Ireland average (69.0%).
When looking at industry sector, the ‘Transport and Communication’ sector has the highest rate of good jobs (88.5%). Three of the nine industries fall below the Northern Ireland average: ‘Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing’ (38.8%), ‘Distribution, Hotels and Restaurants’ (45.5%), and ‘Other Services’ (53.6%).
People in the 40-49 age group have the highest proportion of good jobs, with 80.0% employed in such positions. Employees under the age of thirty have the lowest proportion of good jobs, 12.7% of those in the 16-21 age group and 61.4% of those in the 22-29 age group.
‘Managers, directors, and senior officials’ in Northern Ireland hold the highest proportion of good jobs, with 93.1% of these roles classified as good. ‘Sales and customer service’ have the lowest share of good jobs, with 34.5% of positions meeting this standard.
All reportable sectors within the priority sectors, as outlined by DfE, have a higher rate of good jobs compared to the Northern Ireland average of 69.0%. In 2025, the ‘Financial Services/Fintech’ sector had the highest good job rate at 97.0%, while the ‘Life and Health Sciences’ sector had the lowest at 79.7%.
Notes to editors:
1. The statistical bulletin and associated tables are available at on the NISRA website.
2. This release provides statistics for the proportion of jobs in Northern Ireland that meet the good jobs criteria as set by DfE: one that offers an employee of working age, that is between the ages of 16 and 64, the following:
- A permanent contract; and
- A non zero-hour contract; and
- Earning the Real Living Wage or more
The good jobs measure is sourced from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
3. Analysis is based on employees aged between 16 and 64 in line with data available from ASHE.
4. The survey reference date (30th April 2025) was before public sector pay awards were made and are therefore not included in the 2025 results.
5. The Real Living Wage (RLW) is announced in November each year and must be implemented by the following May. As such it is likely that the previous year’s living wage was still in place when the survey was completed (i.e. the 2024 ASHE data relates to the pay period including April 2024, at which time the 2024/2025 Real Living Wage of £12.60 may not have been applied). The previous year’s RLW is therefore used to calculate the percentage earning at least the RLW.
6. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency wishes to thank the participating businesses for taking part in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
7. The Good Jobs in Northern Ireland 2025 report will be of interest to policy makers, public bodies, the business community, banks, economic commentators, academics and the general public with an interest in the local economy.
8. Statistics underpinning the broader concept of work quality can be found on the NISRA website.
9. More information on DfE’s approach to good jobs can be found on the DfE website.
10. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk.
11. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
12. To keep up to date with news from the Department you can follow us on the following social media channels:
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13. Feedback is welcomed and should be addressed to: Responsible statistician: Patrick O’Kane, Economic & Labour Market Statistics Branch (ELMS), patrick.okane@nisra.gov.uk or Tel: 028 9025 5161.