Background to the Research

• Because of the troubles in Northern Ireland, class is subordinate to sectarianism. Consequently, policy makers have tended to focus most of their attention on sectarian issues, as opposed to class inequalities. This paper examines the effect of focusing on economic issues in Northern Ireland as a means of combating sectarian conflict. Moreover, it is argued that there is a pressing need to search for greater socio-economic understanding and relevance via examining the nature and contribution of social class reproduction.
• It is the perceptions of many commentators that economic investment in Northern Ireland will create more jobs and lower unemployment. Since it is believed, that unemployment is one of the main contributors to violence, any move to alleviate this problem can only be positive.
• The aim of this article then, is to examine if economic regeneration in Northern Ireland benefits all sections of the community, Catholic or Protestant, middle-class or working class. ackground to the research here
  

Research Approach

• Secondary data from government sources such as the Census and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) along with empirical research carried out by various academics, is used, to create a broad overview of the problems associated with economic regeneration in Northern Ireland.

Main Findings

• Empirical evidence has shown that conventional economic policies offer insufficient opportunities for those who become socially polarised. Despite job creation strategies inequality and social exclusion have worsened, especially among families with children. There has been a rise from 9% to 24% between 1979 and 1998/9 in the number of deprived households. In terms of income distribution Northern Irish society has become more socially polarised and as such the question of significant 'social need' is both real and palpable.
• There has been a significant growth among employers, managers and professional workers between 1981 and 1991. However, in relation to male employment for virtually every job created in the employers, managers and professional employees socio-economic group a job has been lost among manual workers (source, Census of Population 1981, 1991).
• The female sector has shown an overall pattern of growth in employment. However, these jobs were predominantly low paid, insecure, and semi or unskilled.
• High-tech companies in Northern Ireland draw their skilled and technical staff from among graduates and those who have been trained in other companies. This inevitably creates 'winners' and 'losers', and further marginalises the long-term unemployed (those unemployed for one year or more), and those who are uneducated and untrained.
• Survey work undertaken in deprived areas of Belfast and Londonderry has revealed the significance of religion in accessing employment. For instance, 52% of the unemployed questioned said they would not 'travel to work through areas dominated by the other religion'. Along with other evidence, the 'chill factors', are less pronounced among 'white collar' and 'technical' employees.

Conclusion

• In regenerating the economy it is vitally important that the benefits of success are spread throughout the community evenly. Unless economic regeneration provides jobs and hope for the unemployed these people will not interconnect with the peace process.
• What are required are new programmes for community development and a major programme to tackle long-term unemployment, as well as special programmes aimed at those who have suffered from violence. Essentially, what is needed is the creation of a Commission for Economic Reconstruction and Social Inclusion to integrate new initiatives, which ensure that developments benefit areas of most need.