Employment and skills programmes (including apprenticeships)

Careers Service content

Skills Strategies

Information on the Tertiary and post-16 Education Reform including Widening Participation and National Occupational Standards.

The Department for the Economy and the Department of Education have published the 14-19 Framework entitled "Developing a more strategic approach to 14-19 Education and Training - a framework to Transform 14-19 Education and Training Provision".

Step Up case studies allows readers to hear from people who have been supported by the Step Up funded projects. The participants share their story of how they have been supported by the Step Up provision

These statistical publications have been produced by the department and present a range of analysis regarding the numbers and characteristics of those enrolling and qualifying in Essential Skills.

In the Northern Ireland economy there is a wide range of salaries advertised across the various sectors and occupations. Unsurprisingly, industries with highly skilled roles such as those within the IT sector have provided the highest average salaries within our economy over the last number of years.

This short article will examine the ranking of salary prospects and how this has changed over time, using sources such as the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and NIJobs TalentBank. The article will also consider if there is a balance to be struck between salary prospects and a “good job”.

The Careers Service provides up to date information about the different sectors of the Northern Ireland economy in regular bulletins and "newsflashes".

Apprenticeship Awards 2024 winners and finalists

Apprenticeship Awards 2025 winners and finalists

The Department for the Economy co-ordinate and co-design the NI Apprenticeship Week in partnership with local educational institutions, private contractors, businesses and local councils.

2025 marked the introduction of the first legal apprenticeships in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting development for the legal sector and Citi Group were the NI Apprenticeship Award Winners 2025 in the Large Employer category, in partnership with Ulster University.

Let’s hear directly from the legal apprentices -

In developing new evidence to underpin the 10x Skills Strategy, DfE worked with NISRA to develop new qualification indicators. This included the creation of a Lifelong Learning indicator for Northern Ireland using Labour Force Survey data.

Skills Initiatives Branch oversees a variety of skills interventions delivered throughout Northern Ireland, to deliver the Minister’s Economic Vision.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced the dates for Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2026.