Issues

Plan to tackle economic inactivity

Stephen Farry Employment Minister Stephen Farry and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster have announced a draft strategy for tackling economic inactivity in Northern Ireland.

Farry explained that his overarching goal is a “stable and competitive employment rate” of over 70 per cent by 2023, which would involve moving more than 30,000 people into work. Within the working age population, the current employment rate is 67.4 per cent.

Economic inactivity differs from unemployment, which affects people who are already in the workforce The main reasons for inactivity are full-time study, family commitments, long-term sickness and disability and early retirement.

He recognised that many individuals will never be able to work because of a range of complex personal and health reasons. “However, there are also many individuals who with the right level of support, will be able to participate in some way in meaningful work,” Farry added. The strategy would help people to make the transition into work “when they opt to do so … this is not about compulsion.”

A public consultation will take place in early 2014 with the aim of producing a final strategy by the summer.

Arlene Foster encouraged everyone with an interest in “this hugely important social and economic issue” to consider the proposals and participate fully in the consultation exercise.

Northern Ireland’s economic inactivity rate stands at 27.4 per cent of the working age population. This rate compares with

23.7 per cent in Wales, 21.4 per cent in Scotland, 22 per cent in England and

31.1 per cent in the Republic of Ireland.

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