Public Appointments Report for Northern Ireland: 2019/20; 2020/21; 2021/22

Date published: 28 March 2023

Key findings include:

Applications in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22

• Between 1st April 2019 and 31st March 2020, 813 applications were received for Public Appointment posts.
• Between 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021, 1,072 applications were received for Public Appointment posts.
• Between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022, 1,107 applications were received for Public Appointment posts.
• Gender is known for 91% of applications received in 2019/20, 95% in 2020/21 and 87% in 2021/22.
• The proportion of females who applied to Member positions was 36% in 2019/20, 40% in 2020/21 and 38% in 2021/22.
• The proportion of females who applied to Chair positions was 27% in 2019/20, 34% in 2020/21 and 23% in 2021/22.

Appointments Made in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22

• Between 1st April 2019 and 31st March 2020, 361 appointments were made to Public Appointment posts.
• Between 1st April 2020 and 31st March 2021, 243 appointments were made to Public Appointment posts.
• Between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022, 212 appointments were made to Public Appointment posts.
• Gender is known for 47% of appointments made in 2019/20, 65% of appointments in 2020/21 and 81% in 2021/22.
• Where gender is known, 48% of those appointed to public appointments in 2019/20 were females, with corresponding proportions of 34% in 2020/21 and 46% in 2021/22.

Appointments held, 31st March 2020, 2021 and 2022

• At 31st March 2020, 893 Public Appointments were held.
• At 31st March 2021, 663 Public Appointments were held.
• At 31st March 2022, 644 public appointments were held.
• Gender is known for 39% of individuals who held appointments on 31st March 2020, 64% of appointments on 31st March 2021 and 81% on 31st March 2022.
• Where gender is known, 43% of those holding public appointments on 31st March 2020 were females, 38% on 31st March 2021 and 42% on 31st March 2022.