A major new report released today (15 May) by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (EPC) has revealed that regional inequalities across Northern Ireland remain stubbornly persistent despite some progress.
The report, titled Delivering Balanced Regional Economic Growth in Northern Ireland, warns that, without a decisive shift toward long-term, locally led investment strategies, economic disparity will continue to undermine the region’s broader prosperity and social cohesion.
The report, which examines historical and current policy responses to regional imbalance, offers a sweeping analysis of the economic performance of all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland. It finds that while headline gaps in employment and skills indicators have improved in recent years, core disparities in productivity, wages, and job quality endure.
Dr Eoin Magennis, Principal Economist at Ulster University Economic Policy Centre and lead author of the report said:
“While we’ve seen pockets of progress, the economic gap between different parts of Northern Ireland is wide – and in some cases, widening. One-size-fits-all solutions haven’t worked. Place-based policy – designed with and for local communities – is the way forward.”
Key findings include:
The data shows that while employment gaps between council areas have narrowed, disparities in productivity and workplace earnings have persisted or worsened. The report also highlights a mismatch between job opportunities and local skill levels in some regions.
READ MORE: Minister announces £250million of Access to Finance funding to support start-ups and SMEs
The report concludes with six policy priorities to foster balanced regional growth:
The report evaluates policy developments including the Department for the Economy’s Sub-Regional Economic Plan and the establishment of Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs), concluding that decentralisation efforts must be matched with adequate funding, capacity-building and robust monitoring.
The analysis highlights the pivot toward bottom-up regional strategies in many parts of Europe, and the authors argue that NI must not fall behind.
Dr Magennis concluded:
“Good regional policy is smart economics. Unlocking the potential of all our places is not just possible, it’s essential. To both efficiency and growth.”
The full report is available to download at ulster.ac.uk/epc
Read the latest edition, Spring 2025, of Sync NI here completely free of charge.
Subscribe to the Sync NI newsletter for all the latest technology news, jobs and upcoming events in Northern Ireland.
Visit Sync NI online for the latest technology news in Northern Ireland.