Background to the Research

• This study reports the results of secondary analysis of the Labour Force Survey in order to describe the financial and labour market background to women's employment and earned income in Northern Ireland

Main Findings

• Women dominated the lower earnings levels. The average weekly net pay for women at £123.86 was only 63% of that for males at £196.93 (using the 1994 NILFS). Women dominated the lower earnings levels up to £150 per week, above this figure women were increasingly in the minority until they virtually disappeared beyond £400 per week level.
• Slightly fewer women than men were in receipt of income maintenance benefits. Nineteen percent of women of working age were in receipt of at least one reference benefit compared with 23% of working age men. Fewer women (11%) were in receipt of Income Support than men (15%).
• Economically inactive men had a higher incidence than economically inactive women of benefit receipt. 77% of those women did not receive any maintenance benefits compared with 74% of comparable men.
• Unemployed men were more likely to be in receipt of Income Support than were unemployed women. Sick or disabled men were more likely to receive Invalidity Benefit than their female counterparts.