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

Date published: 27 September 2018

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.