Protestant joblessness upand RC joblessness down

The East Londonderry MLA has raised the matter with the First Minister, Peter Robinson and the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.

The working age economic inactivity rate among Protestants moved from 24 per cent in 1992 to 25 per cent in 2012.

But the rate for working age Catholics decreased from 34 per cent in 1992 to 30 per cent in 2012.

Mr Campbell asked the Ministers that “in relation to the findings that in the last twenty years economic inactivity rates amongst Protestants have increased whilst for Roman Catholics it has decreased, what action will be taken to increase economic activity rates for all communities?”

The Ministers replied: “Although the survey is based on a sample, with attendant confidence level issues around small changes, and there was also a change in relation to definition of working age females over the period, the key policy message is the high level of economic inactivity here.

“Irrespective of the religious composition, the rate of economic inactivity here has been persistently higher than the UK average for decades and we need to encourage those inactive individuals who, with the right level of support and assistance, will be able to participate in the labour market.

“In November 2013 the Executive agreed to a full public consultation on the draft Strategic Framework ‘Enabling Success: Driving Social Change through Economic Participation – A Strategic Framework to Tackle Economic Inactivity in Northern Ireland.’

“Its proposed overarching strategic goal is to contribute towards a stable and competitive employment rate of over 70 per cent by 2023, through a reduction in the proportion of the working age population classified as economically inactive.

“The public consultation exercise is now complete and DEL and DETI, together with DSD and DHSSPS, are developing a final draft strategy for consideration by the Executive before the end of the year.

“If early agreement can be secured, implementation will begin in early 2015.”

Elsewhere, earlier this year the Sentinel reported how the inequality gap between richer Catholic girls and poorer Protestant boys schools here was a huge 57 percentage points,