28/08/2025
NISRA Report Highlights A Decrease In Employees Working Overtime
The Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA) has published its latest Work Quality statistical report, which contains analysis of six additional work quality indicators: accidents at work, underemployment, trade union membership, participation in training, overtime, and zero-hours contracts.
The analysis, which compares data from 2020 to 2024, includes comparisons across key cohorts such as sex, age, deprivation quintile, and skill level.
Of the six indicators, the only one to see a significant change was the proportion of employees reporting that they had worked overtime (paid or unpaid), which decreased by 8 percentage points (pps) to 21% in 2024, from 29% in 2020. According to the report, fewer employees doing overtime would be considered a positive change. The report also highlights that the proportion of employees not having a zero-hours contract has remained consistently positive at nearly 9 out of 10.
When comparing across key cohorts, the largest differences were seen in skill levels. Employees in high-skilled jobs reported a higher proportion of trade union membership, participation in training, and not having a zero-hours contract, but were more likely to report working overtime. By age, a significantly higher proportion of employees aged 40 and over reported trade union membership (38%) and not having a zero-hours contract (92%) compared to those aged between 18 and 39 (29% and 86% respectively). In terms of deprivation areas, a significantly higher proportion of employees in the least deprived areas (91%) reported that they did not have a zero-hours contract compared to employees in the most deprived areas (85%).
The analysis, which compares data from 2020 to 2024, includes comparisons across key cohorts such as sex, age, deprivation quintile, and skill level.
When comparing across key cohorts, the largest differences were seen in skill levels. Employees in high-skilled jobs reported a higher proportion of trade union membership, participation in training, and not having a zero-hours contract, but were more likely to report working overtime. By age, a significantly higher proportion of employees aged 40 and over reported trade union membership (38%) and not having a zero-hours contract (92%) compared to those aged between 18 and 39 (29% and 86% respectively). In terms of deprivation areas, a significantly higher proportion of employees in the least deprived areas (91%) reported that they did not have a zero-hours contract compared to employees in the most deprived areas (85%).
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29 November 2007
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31 October 2007
Grave Diggers Bury Strike Threat
Threatened strike action by thousands of council workers in Northern Ireland has been averted, trade unions have said. Town hall employees like clerks and grave diggers have agreed a minimum hourly rate of £6 an hour after shop stewards decided not to proceed with industrial action. The 2.47% rise will be backdated to April.
Grave Diggers Bury Strike Threat
Threatened strike action by thousands of council workers in Northern Ireland has been averted, trade unions have said. Town hall employees like clerks and grave diggers have agreed a minimum hourly rate of £6 an hour after shop stewards decided not to proceed with industrial action. The 2.47% rise will be backdated to April.
20 July 2001
NI PRISONS REPORT DOWNTURN IN VIOLENCE
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LEVELS of prison violence in Northern Ireland have dramatically dropped this year according to a new prison service annual report. The Northern Ireland Prison Service’s annual report reveals that major disturbances characteristic of previous years, when large groups of paramilitary groups were incarcerated, have decreased significantly.
21 May 2002
Report pinpoints fraud as major threat to companies
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Report pinpoints fraud as major threat to companies
Fraud by management and employees is a "greater threat to businesses than any other economic issue," according to business advisors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Over the last two years, nearly 40% of Northern Ireland’s biggest private, public and not-for-profit organisations were victims of economic crime, with three-quarters of all offences commit
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.