Northern Ireland research finds Filipino group 1.5 times more likely to be in employment

NISRA research using 2021 Census data found Filipinos in Northern Ireland had more positive health and employment outcomes than the White group on several measures, but degree-holders were more likely to be underemployed.

Research from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) has found that the Filipino ethnic group had more positive outcomes than the White ethnic group on several measures, Down News reported. The study used 2021 Census data to examine socioeconomic and self-reported health outcomes for minority ethnic and minority religion groups in Northern Ireland.

The report found that the Filipino and Indian ethnic groups had a smaller share reporting a disability, poor general health, and having no formal qualifications than the White group.

What the modelling showed

Further analysis using secure, record-level Census data accounted for differences in demographic, socioeconomic and area characteristics. According to NISRA, the following differences for the Filipino group remained:

• The Chinese, Filipino and Indian groups were the minority ethnic groups least likely to report a disability, poor general health, and a mental health condition, compared to the White group.
• Among people aged 16 to 64, the Roma, Filipino and Black Other groups were more likely to be economically active than the White group.
• Among those aged 16 to 64 and economically active, the Filipino group was 1.5 times more likely to be in employment than the White group.

Underemployment among degree holders

The research also flagged a less favourable finding. Among people with degree-level and above qualifications, the Black Other, Filipino and Black African groups were more likely than the White group to work in low-skilled jobs, which the report terms underemployment.

Feeding into race relations policy

Down News reported that the research supports The Executive Office's work on a new strategic approach to racial equality, including the draft Framework for Race Relations and its associated two-year Delivery Plan. The research was conducted under the Administrative Data Research NI initiative, and NISRA noted that it does not and cannot identify causes of the differences between groups.

NISRA's policy brief said there is no single pattern of outcomes across minority groups, meaning general policies for the whole population may not be enough on their own.

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