Looking to the future: working together to meet the needs of employers and the NI economy

Kirsty McManus Assistant Director | CBI Northern Ireland

CBI is the UK’s premier business lobbying organisation - providing a voice in government for employers.

Currently represents some 240,000 businesses - together employing around a third of the private sector workforce.

Located around the UK and internationally in Brussels, Beijing, Washington and New Delhi.

The CBI

Our lobbying and campaigning helps keep business interests at the heart of policy across the UK and internationally.

Keeping members at the cutting edge of business and political intelligence.

◦ Market leading economic surveys and forecasts.◦ Influential thought leadership research reports. ◦ Strategic insight to help guide business decision

making through our IntelligenceFIRST offering. Linking businesses to the right people through our annual

calendar of events.

What we do

CBI NI operates in a different environment to other UK regions i.e.: Devolved government – more contact with government.

Our Policy Priorities in NI:1. Securing a lower Corporation tax rate2. Maximising the capital expenditure programme outlined by the

Executive and ensuring we get the most “bang for the buck”3. Making it easier for businesses to employ people4. Devising ways business and our Executive can work together to

sort out our youth unemployment issue5. Counter-balancing the long term liquidity issues that we are

likely to face

CBI in Northern Ireland

Almost 1 in 5 children leave primary school without achieving their expected level in English and Maths in 2009/10.

20% of the adult population suffering serious literacy and numeracy problems

The percentage of school leavers achieving 5 GCSEs A*-C including English and maths was 59.0% in 2009/10

The percentage of school leavers entitled to free school meals achieving 5 GCSEs A*-C including English and maths was 31.3% in 2009/10

85,000 empty school places which is equivalent of 150 schools

Education

NI unemployment rate is currently at 8.1% - (NISRA – NI Statistics and Research Agency)

45.5% have been unemployed for >1 year. (NISRA – NI Statistics and Research Agency)

Highest inactivity rate among the twelve UK regions at 26.9%.

Youth Unemployment for 18-24 year olds 23.5% Employment rate by education attainment

◦ No Qualifications-40% employment rate/60% unemployment rate

◦ Degree or above-84%

(un)Employment

WHAT ARE THE SKILLS REQUIREMENTS FOR NI

Economy Skills Requirement

Growth industries

Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced Materials

Life & Health Sciences

Telecoms & ICT

Agri-food

Sectors Contribution to NI Economy

Sectors Contribution to Economy

Wages of Growth Sectors

£507

£454

£592

£471

£372

Potential job opportunities by 2020 Industry Job Potential by 2020

ICT Sector 10,000

Agri-Food sector 7,500

Health Tech 5,900

Advanced Manufacturing 1,700

Tradeable services 21,000

Tourism 10,000

Creative Industries 11,700

Green/clean tech 1,600

Induced/Direct jobs 48,800 (8,700 retail, 5,600 hospitality, 4,700 in business services and 2,000 construction)

Oxford Economics, Jan 2011

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF

EMPLOYERS?Skills Requirement

Self Management-readiness to accept responsibility, time management, readiness to improve own performance

Teamworking-respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/persuading, contributing to discussions

Business & Customer awareness-basic understanding of the key drivers for business success and the need to provide customer satisfaction

Problem solving-analysing facts & circumstances and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions

Employability Skills

Communication & Literacy-application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy

Application of numeracy-manipulation of numbers, general mathematical awareness

Application of Information technology-basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, file management and use of internet search engines

Positive Attitude

Employability Skills

Co-ordinated Approach

Thank you