Number of Catholics in the Northern workforce up 1.7%

The number of Catholics in the workplace is continuing to rise, according to figures released today.

The report by the Northern Ireland Equality Commission showed that in 2002, the number of Catholic employees grew by 1.7%, while the number of Protestants fell by 0.6% from the previous year.

In the public sector alone, the number of Catholics appointed has increased from 40.5% in 1990 to 48% in 2002.

Of the almost 4,000 employers surveyed, the statistics revealed that 59.1% were Protestant and 40.9% Catholic.

Figures from the 2001 Census showed that the proportion of Protestants of working age was 57.3%, while 42.7% were Catholic.

It also showed that the Protestant population was older, with Catholics accounting for more than half (51%) of those between 16 to 35 the age where most people are applying for jobs.

Chief Commissioner Joan Harbison said these trends suggest that the number of Catholics available to work was likely to continue to rise.

But she added the monitoring returns still identified some sections of the workforce where the numbers of Protestants and Catholics employed varied from what was expected.

“The Commission will continue to evaluate factors associated with under-representations, be they Protestant or Roman Catholic and where necessary work with employers and others in these sectors and location to help them take action to turn the the situation around,” she added.