Economic Inactivity Literature Review

1. Economic Inactivity Literature Review March 2014 Professor Ronald McQuaid University of Stirling r.w.mcquaid@stir.ac.uk Presentation as part of: “Enabling Success” Consultation on a New Strategic Framework to Tackle Economic Inactivity in Northern Ireland – Driving Social Change Through Economic Participation - Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland

2. 1. BACKGROUND Economic inactivity related to: • family commitments, specifically lone parents • work-limiting health conditions or disabilitiesPrimarily based on academic findings using desk based research and some statistical analysis

3. KEY FINDINGS - Family Commitments - Disabilities- Conclusions

4. Some pathways into inactivity • Family responsibility: • Heterogeneity • Young vs older separation/divorce lone parents • Likelihood of remaining economically ‘inactive’ rises with number of children, disability of child etc.

5. Lone parents and caring Inactivity rates of lone parents much greater in NI than GB. Married/co-habiting and no dependents not greatly different in NI and GB

6. Mothers returning to work More likely to return to work if: • employed during pregnancy • working in the public sector • working for a larger employer • (longer) duration of job pre-birth, generous maternity pay, particularly occupational provision in addition to the statutory entitlement • partnered rather than single • highly qualified

7. Mothers returning to work Less likely if: • from certain ethnic backgrounds • lone mothers • partner works long hours

8. Family responsibilities – policy lessons • Holistic and tailored support   • Partnership working • Good advisers • Training and qualifications • Making work pay

9. 1. BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH2. KEY FINDINGS - Family Commitments- Disabilities - Conclusions

10. Some pathways into inactivity • Disability: • disability from childhood • disability during working life

11. Disability and caring Inactivity rates of disabled greater in NI than GB, especially for lone parents and those with no dependents

12. Disabilities • The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a person with disabilities as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities • Those with DDA and a work limiting disability are most likely to be inactive

13. Disability and employment issues • Entering ‘main stream employment’: • employability (skills, qualifications etc); • accessible work (physical, work organisation); • attitudes of employers (and co-workers). • Type of job (part-time, low pay, low skilled) • Types and severity of disabilities (e.g. diabetes vs mental) • Sheltered workplaces

14. People with disabilities – policy lessons • a focus on employers and workplaces • supporting the whole range of jobs • employability • awareness about programmes • integrated approach

15. 1. BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH2. KEY FINDINGS - Contextual analysis - Family Commitments - Disabilities- Conclusions

16. Conclusions • Reducing inactivity is important for NI • Alternatives to paid employment for some • Policies may appear to be gender, disability, family-blind etc. but in reality may not be • Not just an ‘add on’ to existing policies

17. Thank you for listening Report is available at: McQuaid, R., Shapira, M., Graham, H. and Raeside, R. (2013) Economic Inactivity Research Project (those with family commitments and the long-term sick and disabled) - Literature Review (Project-11040), Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland http://www.delni.gov.uk/economic-inactivity-literature-review-project