Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has set out his determination to get more people into work in Northern Ireland.
Speaking ahead of announcements to the Assembly today (Monday 6 October) to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “Employment is one of the best pathways out of poverty and to improved health and life outcomes.
“I am determined to open up opportunities and to break down barriers to employment.
“My focus is on those who have felt excluded from the world of work and making sure that the right supports are in place at the right time.”
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The Minister will set out an ambitious new strategy to ensure more disabled people and people with health conditions can access, and thrive in, an inclusive and welcoming labour market.
The Minister explained: “Up to now, our track record on disability employment has not been good enough. I want us to do better.
“Disability influences lives in many unique and personal ways and the issues faced by disabled people can be complex and intersectional.
“Employment can offer a means to help address and overcome many of the challenges faced.
“Real change is needed that matches the talents and ambitions of disabled people. It must be felt on the ground. My new strategic approach promises that change.”
The Minister will also launch a new programme to help working age benefit claimants to enter or re-enter the labour market. The scheme will expand on previous employer incentive programmes that have seen thousands of participants move into sustained employment.
The Minister added: “I will be bringing forward the biggest jobs programme of its kind, extending our reach to more people than previous initiatives.
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“The programme will have a range of supports for new employees and also for employers to ensure positive pathways to work. It will build upon the success of previous programmes recently delivered by the Department which were positively endorsed both by employers and jobseekers.”
Northern Ireland’s economic inactivity rate is 26%. This means that over 300,000 people of working age are not active in the labour market. Almost 40% of that is due to ill-health or disability.
Northern Ireland has the worst disability employment rate (41.3%) across the UK (52.8%).
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