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Fair Employment Monitoring Report

The 32nd Monitoring Report, published in April 2023, presents an aggregated summary of the 3,879 valid monitoring returns received during 2021 from 105 public authorities and 3,474 private sector concerns.  These returns were received between 1st January and 31st December 2021, with a period of extension granted to some companies due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  This year’s report shows the Protestant community share of the monitored workforce was [50.0%] and the Roman Catholic community share was [50.0%].

Download the 32nd Monitoring Report (pdf, 956kb) or see the website section. Information about NI workforce sectors, companies data and how to interprete the data is also available.
 

Public opinion surveys

Our latest Public Opinion Survey, conducted by Social Market Research, was undertaken between February 2023 and March 2023 and is based on a representative sample of 1023 adults.

The findings from the Public Opinion Survey, including reports from previous years, are available on our Public Opinion Survey webpage. The latest reports is available for download below:
 
 

Protecting rights after Brexit

The UK Government has committed to ensuring that there will be no reduction of certain rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity protections, set out in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, after Brexit. It has also committed to ensuring that some of Northern Ireland’s equality laws will keep pace with any future changes to certain EU equality laws.

From 1 January 2021, the Equality Commission, together with the NI Human Rights Commission, have new powers to monitor, advise, enforce and report on these commitments. Read more about our role and work in protecting your post Brexit equality rights
 

Measuring Equality in Northern Ireland

The Equality Commission NI has developed a monitoring framework for Measuring Equality in Northern Ireland. This framework will enable the Commission to identify existing and emerging inequalities and track improvements over time.

The Framework identifies six broad areas of life in Northern Ireland to be covered: Education, Employment, Participation in Public life, Health and Social Care, Standards of living and housing, Communities that are welcoming and inclusive.


These areas contain a total of nine equality outcome areas. Each outcome area has associated specific priority areas with potential population indicators and sources of evidence. Read more about Measuring Equality in NI
 
 
 
 

Your Rights after Brexit



See how the Equality Commission is working to protect your post Brexit equality rights


International Mechanisms
See how the Equality Commission uses international mechanisms to advance equality of opportunity and good relations in NI.

Read the Commission's response to the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty & human rights (pdf) 

Gaps in equality law - NI / GB
Learn more about the widening gaps between equality law here and elsewhere in the UK.

Programme for Government

The Equality Commission has set out its recommendations in relation to the next Programme for Government

Research

Public Opinion Survey - NEW
Read the findings of our latest public opinion survey (Social Market Research, May 2023)

See our research on:
 


Measuring Equality in NI
We have developed a new monitoring framework for Measuring Equality in NI

Shaping welcoming & inclusive workplaces
Read our qualitative findings on employer and employee experiences of welcoming and inclusive workplaces

Investigations

Learn more about our Section 75 investigation procedure, formal investigations, and completed investigations

Read the findings of the Commission's formal investigation into the treatment of pregnant workers & mothers in NI workplaces

Policy

NI Budget 2023-24
Read our recommendations on proposed Departmental Budget allocations for 2023-24

See our policy priorities on:
 


Poverty & Disadvantage
See our summary policy positions (pdf) on poverty and socio-economic disadvantage. 

Our Legal Work
See how we decide which cases to support and how we review the law and read more about the legal cases we have supported.

Fair Employment Monitoring Report No.32
Our latest Monitoring Report profiles NI's workforce by community background and sex (based on 2021 data)