Public Appointments: Annual Report for Northern Ireland, 2016/17

The Executive Office today published ‘Public Appointments: Annual Report for Northern Ireland, 2016/17’, which presents data on public appointments in Northern Ireland between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017.

Applications

Between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017, there were 1,014 applications for public appointments. 39% of all applications, where gender is known, were from females; the proportion of applications from females has been increasing steadily from the 26% level in 2010/11. 40% of Member applications and 28% of Chair applications were from females.

There was a low proportion, 15%, of applications from individuals under the age of 40 (where age is known). 11% of applications received in 2016/17, where disability status is known, were from applicants who considered themselves to have a disability.  This compares to 25% of the population aged 16 and over. 

Appointments Made

Between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017, Departments made a total of 131 public appointments. This is down from 471 appointments in 2015/16; part of this reduction is potentially attributable to the absence of Executive Ministers towards the end of 2016/17.

37% of all appointments, where gender is known, were to females. This is the lowest proportion of female appointments since 2011/12; however, it should be noted that gender is unknown for 37% of the appointments made in 2016/17.

There was a low proportion of appointments made to individuals under the age of 40: 16% of appointments were to people in this age group, whilst 33% of the general population is aged 15-39.

Appointments Held (at 31 March 2017)

At 31 March 2017, 1,298 appointments were held. 41% of all appointments, where gender is known, were held by females; this is a 7 percentage point increase since 2010. 42% of Member positions and 28% of Chair positions were held by females.

Females are proportionally over-represented in unpaid appointments, and under-represented in appointments which pay £5,000 or more per year.

A low proportion of appointments (4%) were held by individuals who considered themselves to have a disability.

Notes to editors: 

1. To view the Public Appointments: Annual Report for Northern Ireland, 2016/17 and associated data tables, please visit the Statistics and Research section of The Executive Office website.
2. Media enquiries should be made to The Executive Office Press Office on 028 9037 8201. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.
3. Further information relating to the collection and production of the statistics can be obtained by contacting:

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