NICVA: Voluntary and community sector wants focus on job creation
The sector has clear views on the future of the economy and NICVA is making sure that its voice is heard. Peter Hutchinson explains.
NICVA, through its Centre for Economic Empowerment (CEE), is aiming to increase the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to engage in economic policy debate in Northern Ireland. As part of this work, the CEE will be hosting its second annual economic conference in December of this year. The focus of the conference will be job creation.
In producing a comprehensive Economic Strategy and Action Plan, the Northern Ireland Executive has embarked on a plan to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy by growing our private sector and developing an outward looking economy.
Whilst the Executive’s Economic Strategy marks a significant improvement on what has gone before, there are a number of potential risks associated with it. Firstly, the Executive is attempting to implement it at a time of unprecedented turbulence and weakness in the global economy, especially in the euro zone. Also, with its focus on boosting exports and increasing foreign direct investment, there is a danger that any recovery could largely pass by those with weaker educational outcomes. This may result in maintaining high unemployment levels and risking further increases in inequality which can destabilise society.
This is illustrated by the Republic of Ireland whose economic model bears similarities to what we are trying to achieve and which has been performing well recently. However, its unemployment rate has been predicted to stay at over 10 per cent for the foreseeable future.
The make-up of the Northern Ireland economy means our employment market has remained quite resilient. However, unemployment is on the rise, especially for young people, with a current unemployment rate of 21.4 per cent. When we consider the impact of welfare reform and our levels of economic inactivity, it is likely that unemployment rates will get worse before they get better.
The macro-economic debates of austerity versus fiscal stimulus, access to finance for business, and developing innovation and boosting green investment are crucial. For the voluntary and community sector, accessing work and barriers to work are just as important. The introduction of welfare reform, new employment programmes and social clauses will only have an impact if there are meaningful jobs for people to undertake.
Holistic approaches to tackling educational underachievement, health inequalities, social exclusion and providing adequate childcare are key. More and more, we are beginning to realise that continued under-performance in these areas will have a significant and long lasting impact on our economy as well as our society. Similarly, trying to create a dynamic outward looking economy that attracts the best businesses in the world without properly addressing the divisions that exist in our society, at best, appears a disjointed approach.
NICVA wants to deliver an economy that works for both society and business now and in the future. For us this means targeting a dynamic and innovative low carbon economy that is fair, inclusive and which can deliver meaningful employment for all sections of our community.
NICVA through the Centre for Economic Empowerment will seek to examine in detail how we might boost job creation and further develop the good economy at the December conference. Pursuing, developing and being open to new ideas is crucial if we are to develop an economy that delivers for everyone and one which can be successful in a turbulent world.
For more information, contact:
Peter Hutchinson, Centre for Economic Empowerment, Co-ordinator
Tel: 028 9087 7777
Email: peter.hutchinson@nicva.org
Web: www.nicva.org
Twitter: @NICVACEE
