The Bulletin, which brings together a range of information and commentary on the Northern Ireland Labour market, points up the challenges faced in the current downturn and also shows areas where Northern Ireland has been successful.
Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, said: “After many years of rising employment and falling unemployment, recent weaknesses in the jobs market and the rise in the number of people out of work remind us, if we needed reminding, that we cannot rest on our laurels.
“As we look to develop strategies and responses to the current situation, it is vital that these are grounded in a sound evidence base, one provided by robust research and analysis to underpin policies and services.”
The current issue of the Labour Market Bulletin: documents the current labour market and skills position and contains articles on a wide range of topics, including the skill needs of employers; contains research into future skills needs that will inform the review of the Northern Ireland skills strategy; highlights research on welfare reform that has informed the design of the new Steps to Work programme; contains articles on the experiences of students in higher education and analysis of what happens to them after they graduate; and information and research about migrant workers in Northern Ireland.
Dave Rogers, Editor of the Bulletin, said: “All of this information and research helps the Department, and others, assess the impacts on policies and service delivery and should enable us to better meet the fresh demands placed on us by the new environment we find ourselves in.”
The Labour Market Bulletin, published by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), disseminates analysis and commentary from a wide range of sources, both inside and outside Government, to a wide audience. The Bulletin also contains the results of some of the research that DEL has commissioned to better inform its policy development and service delivery.
The Bulletin also covers a range of topics such as the state of the Northern Ireland labour market; skills; education and training (including Higher and Further Education); and welfare reform.
The publication is available on the Department’s website
Notes to Editors:
- The Labour Market Bulletin aims to raise awareness and knowledge of the sector by publishing summaries of research and evaluation projects carried out by the Department and others.
- All media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office, tel: 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
