
Despite an increase in the number of childcare places available since 1996, Northern Ireland has one of the lowest levels of childcare within the UK.
Research was undertaken for the Equality Commission by the Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University to advise them on the type, extent and delivery of childcare in Northern Ireland.
The report sets out:
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the major types of childcare provision currently in existence in Northern Ireland and
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a vision for childcare provision that might help to contribute to the economic participation of mothers.
It also highlights that improvements to childcare provision in Northern Ireland are central to equality, economic prosperity, poverty reduction and other government aims.
Download the research - Maximising the economic participation of women:
Fair Employment Monitoring Report No. 30

The total monitored workforce in 2019 was 564,826 an increase of 1,597 (0.3%) from the previous year. The breakdown of the monitored workforce by community background was [50.5%] Protestant and [49.5%] Roman Catholic, an increase in the Catholic share of [0.2 percentage points] from the previous year.
In 2019, the female share increased to 52.3% from 51.8% the previous year. Women have increased their share of the monitored workforce almost every year between 2001 (50.4%) and 2010 (52.7%).
In 2019, Roman Catholics represented [53.1%] and Protestants [46.9%] of all applicants, and Roman Catholics represented [53.3%] and Protestants [46.7%] of all appointees.
The monitored workforce consists of an estimated 64 - 65% of those in employment and covers private and public employers, with 11 or more employees working 16 hours or more, who are required to
monitor the composition of their workforce in terms of community background and sex.
Further information:
Working class Protestant boys underachieve in education
In 2007 our research indicated concerns about underachievement among working class pupils and in particular working class Protestant boys in their educational achievement.
A Question of Attitude (2018)

We asked respondents a series of 'social distance' questions to assess public attitudes towards ten equality groups. The scenarios explored how comfortable people felt with varying degrees of closeness to a member of a 'different' group. Respondents were asked whether they 'would mind' or 'would not mind' having a member of each group as a work colleague, a neighbour or if one of the group members were to marry a close relative.
Do You Mean Me? (2011)
The Commission's equality awareness survey 'Do You Mean Me?' includes social attitudes in Northern Ireland on a number of equality grounds, including sex/gender.