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How is our work influencing life in Northern Ireland and delivering equality? Learn more about our policy, legal and research work.
 
 

Key Inequalities in Employment

What you need to know

 
Statement
Key Inequalities in EmploymentThe Equality Commission has published a Statement on Key Inequalities in Employment in Northern Ireland which highlights our assessment of inequalities and differences in employment faced by equality groups across the Section 75 equality categories in Northern Ireland.


Download our Statement on Key Inequalities in Employment:
 



Key Inequalities
Alongside a number of differences and wider inequalities, fourteen key inequalities have been identified for employment from data spanning 2007-2016:

There is a persistent employment gap between people with and without disabilities

 

Women experience a lower employment rate and a higher economic inactivity rate when they have dependents

 

Lone parents with dependents experience barriers to their participation in employment

 

Carers experience barriers to participating in employment

 

Irish Travellers are less likely to be in employment than all other ethnic groups

 

Those aged 18-24 years have higher unemployment rates than those aged 25 years and older

 

Those aged 50-64 years are less likely to be in employment and more likely to be economically inactive than those aged 25-49

 

Women, lone parents with dependents & carers providing less than 49 hours of care are more likely to be in part-time work

 

Women experience industrial segregation in employment

 

Women and lone parents experience occupational segregation in employment

 

Migrant workers, particularly those from Eastern European countries, are subject to industrial and occupational segregation

 

Migrant workers and refugees face multiple barriers to employment

 

Migrant workers are vulnerable to exploitation

 

Prejudicial attitudes both within and outside the workplace are experienced by people...

 
 

Data Gaps
An important caveat is that there remain significant and specific data gaps across a number of themes in relation to a number of equality groups, specifically: gender identity and sexual orientation.  In addition, there is a lack of data disaggregation in relation to ethnicity; and, dependency status.  These shortfalls limit the Commission’s ability to draw robust conclusions about inequalities, and/or progress in addressing the same across the full range of equality categories and groups.

Research
In compiling this Statement, the Commission has drawn on a wide range of sources including research reports from government departments, the community and voluntary sectors, academic research and the Commission’s own research archive. In addition, we contracted independent research by Naper University, Edinburgh, and undertook a detailed analysis of the Labour Force Survey by each equality ground. Stakeholder engagement and a public consultation process also played a key role in the formation of this Statement.

Download research 'Employment Inequalities in Northern Ireland':
 
This statement on Key Inequalities in Employment is part of a series of statements which will examine key issues across various areas where people in Northern Ireland face inequality. It will update the our work on key inequalities carried out in 2007 (pdf)

See our statements on:



< Employment research and investigations
< Employment landing page
 
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