London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Catholics and Protestants in NI workforce almost 50:50

Catholics and Protestants in NI workforce almost 50:50

The number of Catholic and Protestant workers in Northern Ireland is almost equal, a new report has revealed.

An Equality Commission study for 2021 showed that 43.5% of the workforce was Protestant, 43.4%, was Catholic and 13.1% were "non-determined".

In 2001 the workforce composition was 59.7% Protestant and 40.3% Catholic.

The commission's chief said fair employment legislation laid down in 1991 was responsible for driving change.

"Northern Ireland's workforce composition as shown in this report is very different to what we saw 30 years ago," said Geraldine McGahey.

"The Fair Employment legislation was responsible for driving that change, and for proving that legal enforcement of rights could work."

Ms McGahey said the law had helped pave the way for the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to the Troubles.

The Fair Employment and Treatment Northern Ireland Order bans discrimination on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion, so people cannot be "less favourably treated than others" because of their religion, presumed religion or political affiliation or because they do not hold any of these beliefs or opinions.


Shifting demographics


The latest statistics are based on a total monitored workforce of 564,296, of whom:

*  245,419 (43.5%) were Protestant

*  245,070 (43.4%) were Catholic

*  73,807 (13.1%) were non-determined (defined as "where a community background is neither stated nor can reasonably be determined")

*  52.4% were women

It also showed that for the 13th consecutive year, the Catholic community (52.8%) comprised a greater proportion of applicants than the Protestant community (47.2%).


In every year since 2006, members of the Catholic community (52.7%) comprised a greater proportion of appointees than did the Protestant community (47.3%).

The monitoring report noted that the overall picture for 2021 is subject to the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is an estimated under-reporting of approximately 1,700 employees.

The demographics of Northern Ireland have shifted slightly since the Good Friday Agreement.

In 2001 the census showed that 43.8% of the population had a Catholic background and 53.1% had a Protestant background.

The 2021 Census shows the proportion of theresident population with a Catholic background was 45.7% compared to 43.48% Protestant.

The number of people from a Catholic background and those listed as "non-determined" in the workforce has increased since the commission's last report for 2020 was published.

It showed 44.3% were Protestant, 43.9% were Catholic and 11.8% were non-determined.

Geraldine McGahey said that the changing dynamics of society in Northern Ireland meant reform of fair employment legislation was now needed.

Geraldine McGahey says law reform is needed


"Any new legislation should build on the unique and highly successful fair employment provisions.

"It should be seen as a chance to strengthen and enhance the laws that have worked so well to make our workplaces less divided, more inclusive, and more accepting of difference," she said.

The 2021 report shows the breakdown of the monitored workforce in Northern Ireland by community background.

It uses data provided to the commission by private and public sector employers based on their workforces in 2021.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×