New Initiatives to Boost Employment in Northern Ireland Announced by Minister Lyons
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is set to unveil a series of initiatives aimed at increasing employment rates in Northern Ireland. The strategies focus on integrating more disabled people and benefit claimants into the workforce, addressing the region's high economic inactivity rate.
Focus on Disability Employment
A key component of the plan is a new strategy designed to improve access to the labour market for individuals with disabilities and health conditions. Northern Ireland currently has the lowest disability employment rate in the UK, standing at 41.3% compared to the UK average of 52.8%.
"Up to now, our track record on disability employment has not been good enough. I want us to do better," said Mr. Lyons.
The minister emphasized the need for "real change" to match the talents and ambitions of disabled people, providing the right supports at the right time to those who feel excluded from the world of work.
New Programme for Benefit Claimants
In addition to the disability employment strategy, Mr. Lyons will launch a new programme to help working-age benefit claimants enter or re-enter the labour market. This scheme will expand upon successful previous employer incentive programmes.
“I will be bringing forward the biggest jobs programme of its kind, extending our reach to more people than previous initiatives,” said Mr. Lyons. He added that the program will offer a range of supports for both new employees and employers.
Addressing Economic Inactivity
The initiatives aim to tackle Northern Ireland's economic inactivity rate, which currently stands at 26%. This means over 300,000 working-age individuals are not active in the labour market. The Department for Communities estimates that almost 40% of this inactivity is due to ill-health or disability.
Expected Impact and Next Steps
Mr. Lyons will formally announce the new strategy and programme at the Assembly on Monday. The initiatives build upon previous successes and are designed to provide positive pathways to work for those who have faced barriers to employment. The success of these initiatives will be closely watched as Northern Ireland seeks to improve its employment landscape and address the challenges of economic inactivity.
