Highest recorded rates of employment in Northern Ireland in a decade
Date published:
New accredited official statistics published 28/05/2025 by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Finance reveal that the Northern Ireland employment rate has reached its highest total in a decade.
In 2014, the Northern Ireland employment rate was 67.7%. Now in 2024, the Northern Ireland employment rate has increased to 74.0%.
In 2014, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate was 6.4%. Now in 2024, the Northern Ireland unemployment rate has decreased to 1.8%.
In 2014, the Northern Ireland economic inactivity rate was 27.6%. Now in 2024, the Northern Ireland economic inactivity rate has decreased to 24.6%.
Key Findings:
- The Labour Force Survey defines "employed" as people aged 16 or over who did at east one hour of paid work in the reference week (whether as an employee or self employed); those who had a paid job that they were temporarily away from; those on government supported training and employee programmes and those doing unpaid family work.
- The number of employed persons aged 16 to 64 in 2024 was estimated at 871,000 an increase of 8,000 over the year and an increase of 85,000 over the decade.
- Of those aged 16 to 64 who were employed in 2024, 52% (455,000) were male and 48% (416,000) were female.
- The Labour Force Survey defines "unemployed" as those aged 16 and over without a job who were able to start work in the two weeks following their LFS interview and had either looked for work in the four weeks prior to interview or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained.
- The number of unemployed persons aged 16 and over in 2024 was estimated at 17,000, a decrease of 4,000 over the year and a decrease of 38,000 over the decade.
- Of those aged 16 and over who were unemployed in 2024, 65% (11,000) were male and 35% (6,000) were female.
- The Labour Force Survey defines "economically inactive" as people not in employment who have not been seeking work within the last 4 weeks and/or are unable to start work within the next 2 weeks.
- The number of inactive persons aged 16 to 64 in 2024 was estimated at 290,000, no change over the year and a decrease of 30,000 over the decade.
- Of those aged 16 to 64 who were inactive in 2024, 40% (117,000) were male and 60% (173,000) were female.
About the Publication:
This report provides key labour market results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the year ending 31 December 2024.
This report contains information on unemployment rates, employment rates and economic inactivity rates for Northern Ireland in 2024.
This bulletin is an official accredited statistics publication, it is produced on an annual basis by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Finance.
Further Information:
For the full HTML version report please visit: Labour Force Survey Annual Summary 2024
Publication page and associated documents and tables: Labour Force Survey Annual Summary Report 2024 | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency