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Northern Ireland

Demography

Because of the youthful age profile, the working age population in Northern Ireland continues to increase faster than the total population. (Read more...)

Household income and spending

While household income per head in Northern Ireland has been growing at a higher rate than the UK average, household spending has not. This reflects the fact that sources of household income in Northern Ireland are less stable than in the UK as a whole. (Read more...)

Housing market

Northern Ireland’s housing market continues to lag behind that of the UK as a whole, with no sign of a recovery. Moreover, the most recent data suggest that the market is entering a new downturn, as declines in prices are accelerating. (Read more...)

Industries and firms

The public sector and manufacturing account for a greater share of employment in Northern Ireland than in the UK. However, the relative importance of manufacturing has been declining for the past 30 years. (Read more...)

Labour market

The labour market in Northern Ireland continues to lag behind that of the UK. While the unemployment rate fell during 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 for the UK as a whole, in Northern Ireland it continued to rise; and long-term unemployment remains a problem. The high share of manufacturing in total employment is blamed for the lack of recovery in the labour market in Northern Ireland. (Read more...)

News and interpretation - Manufacturing

New results show that Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector suffered large declines in sales and exports between 2009 and 2010. However, there are early signs of improvement in export orders. Furthermore, the sector may be given a boost in 2011 by new foreign direct investment. (Read more...)

News and interpretation - Other

The budget cuts over the next four years, agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive, are to be less severe than those in England and Wales. However, welfare cuts agreed in Westminster are likely to hit Northern Ireland hard. The reduction in the rate of corporation tax announced in the UK budget was welcomed by firms in Northern Ireland, but there are calls for a bigger reduction. (Read more...)

News and interpretation - Services

Overall, the services sector in Northern Ireland has failed to pick up following the economic downturn. However, within the broad sector there are mixed performances. Retailers suffered towards the end of 2010 as extreme weather conditions kept shoppers away, while the VAT rate hike is expected to have further negative impacts on the sector at the beginning of 2011. The outlook for computing services is more favourable, as it continues to see high levels of growth. (Read more...)

Occupational mix

Compared to the UK average Northern Ireland has under-representation of occupations in managerial and professional positions and a higher concentration in skilled trades, reflecting the provinces specialisation in certain industries. The differences between the picture today and conditions ten years ago reveal how much the economy has changed. (Read more...)

Short-term outlook

GVA in Northern Ireland is expected to grow more rapidly than in the UK as a whole, but mainly because manufacturing is recovering later than in the rest of the UK. Employment in Northern Ireland is expected to grow by a small amount in 2011, in contrast to the UK labour market as a whole, in which employment is expected to decline. This is due to differences in manufacturing employment. (Read more...)

Skills and earnings

Over the last 16 years, the labour market has been improving and the unemployment rate is converging with the UK average. However, average earnings are held back by a shortage of skilled workers. (Read more...)

The long-term: Demography

Population growth in Northern Ireland is expected to be slightly faster in the future than in the recent past, while the establishment of a lasting peace will have a positive impact on economic development in the Province. (Read more...)

The long-term: GVA and employment

Over the long term, growth in output in Northern Ireland is expected to lag behind the UK average, but employment is forecast to increase in line with the national average. This combination implies a widening productivity gap between Northern Ireland and the UK. (Read more...)

Transport infrastructure

The location of Northern Ireland explains why its transport infrastructure is focused on the external links to Great Britain and the Republic rather than on the inland network. (Read more...)