Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has committed to significantly reduce Northern Ireland's high economic inactivity rate, which currently stands at 26%—with more than 300,000 working-age people not active in the labour market.

Ahead of announcements to the Assembly today, Monday, 6 October, the Minister emphasised that employment offers one of the best pathways out of poverty and towards "improved health and life outcomes".

A core element of the Minister's plan is a new, ambitious strategy focused on improving employment outcomes for disabled people and people with health conditions. Northern Ireland currently has the worst disability employment rate across the UK, at 41.3% compared to the UK average of 52.8%. Furthermore, almost 40% of the region’s economic inactivity is due to ill-health or disability.

Mr Lyons said the region's track record on disability employment "has not been good enough". He added: "Real change is needed that matches the talents and ambitions of disabled people. It must be felt on the ground. My new strategic approach promises that change."

The Minister is also set to launch what he described as the "biggest jobs programme of its kind," aimed at helping working-age benefit claimants enter or re-enter the labour market.

The scheme will expand on previous employer incentive programmes that successfully moved thousands of participants into sustained employment. It will feature a range of supports for both new employees and employers to ensure positive and successful pathways to work, building on previously successful initiatives delivered by the Department.