This Strategy sets out the Department for Communities’ commitment to achieve better employment outcomes for disabled people, people with health conditions, and people who are neurodivergent.
In 2023/24 the employment rate for disabled people in Northern Ireland was 43.4% around half of the employment rate for people without disabilities (83.7%). The difference between these two rates is known as the disability employment gap. Northern Ireland has the largest disability employment gap of any of the UK nations and it has changed little over the last decade.
The Strategy aims to get more disabled people into better jobs, helping to reduce the disability pay gap, reduce underemployment, and support more disabled people into self-employment.
If you would like to contribute to this consultation please contact Siobhán at policy@wsn.org.uk The deadline for responses to this consultation is 12th January 2026 and it is available on the Department for Communities website here:
