Good Jobs

We can increase the number of people working in Good Jobs by:

• investing in affordable childcare and fair pay for childcare workers;
• creating more and better paid apprenticeships and skills academies;
• replacing zero hour contracts with contracts that provide flexibility and protect workers rights;
• strengthening the role of trade unions, particularly in low-paying sectors;
• altering our economic structure by supporting industries that provide Good Jobs;
• harnessing the unrealised potential of the Social Economy; and
• improving careers advice, including in schools, so that people are fully informed about the opportunities available to them.

'Good Jobs' Employment Rights

Following public consultation, the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, announced in April 2025 a package of proposed reforms to employment law: 

• Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill Public Consultation Response

The proposals cover four main themes – terms of employment, pay and benefits, voice and representation, and work-life balance. The wide-ranging reforms include proposals to:

• end exploitative zero hours contracts;
• enhance protections for agency workers;
• end abuse of fire and rehire tactics;
• ensure tips left to workers are passed on to them in full;
• modernise our trade union framework;
• make it easier to attain flexible working; and
• enhance rights to family-related leave, including the introduction of carer’s leave, as well as neonatal leave and pay.

These reforms will include an Employment Rights Bill and complementary legislation, statutory Codes of Practice and guidance.

• Minister announces most significant upgrade of employment legislation in 25 years

'Good Jobs' Explainers

The Good Jobs – Employment Rights Bill is a key part of the Department’s ambition to raise standards for all workers across Northern Ireland, supporting fair pay, greater job security, improved work-life balance, and a stronger voice in the workplace. The Bill represents a significant step forward in employment rights.

To show what this means in practice, a series of short explainers and animations have been developed, bringing key changes to life. These highlight strengthened family leave and support for carers, an improved right to request flexible working that works for both employees and employers, and a fairer approach to zero-hour contracts

• Good Jobs Explainers

Carnegie Framework

To measure the quality of work in ‘Good Jobs’ the Department has adopted the Carnegie Framework. This Framework identifies seven elements of job quality including work life balance, health and safety, and terms of employment.   

'Good Jobs' statistics and research

Further information on the Framework, official statistics and research commissioned on Good Jobs:

• Good Jobs statistics and research