Given that Northern Ireland has consistently had the worst figures for economic inactivity across the UK particularly for women we have started work on some research into women’s economic inactivity.

The aim of this research is to highlight a number of areas:

• The reasons why women are more likely to be economically inactive
• The barriers to women’s participation in the workforce
• What training/skills/jobs women want to do
• What currently helps/could be put in place to help women undertake training and/or make the move into work
• To highlight the role of the Women’s Centres and the Women Breaking Barriers project in helping women get into education, training and work.

Siobhán has developed a questionnaire and is currently undertaking a series of focus group sessions with women on this issue.  These focus groups will run in May and June 2024.

Thanks to those who have already been in touch with Siobhán to offer a focus group session.  Please contact Siobhán at policy@wsn.org.uk if you think you could hold a focus group session with women on this issue.