Introduction and Overview
The Context for WIIS
Recent years have witnessed significant changes in work and employment in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Some arise from unique events such as Covid-19 and, in the case of Northern Ireland, Brexit, together with attendant on-going problems associated with a cost of living crisis. Northern Ireland’s economy faces on-going challenges in respect of low productivity growth, stagnating incomes and, in recent months, economic contraction. The Republic of Ireland’s economy is in a stronger position with buoyant tax returns, a robust labour market nearing full employment, strong income growth, and high productivity levels albeit skewed by the presence of large numbers of foreign-owned multinational companies. Yet it too confronts significant challenges around infrastructural deficits, skills shortages, high childcare costs and an aging population.
Further, both economies face similar long-term difficulties arising from renewed international political tensions, disruptions to established trade patterns, ecological crises, together with challenges arising from the adoption of new digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, the rise of the platform economy, and workers’ desire for more flexible forms of work, including remote working and greater work-life balance.
Objectives
The objective of the Working in Ireland Survey (WIIS 2) is to track these developments and to examine the manner in which they affect workers’ skills, their experience of work, incomes and well-being and, in turn, the productive performance of organisations and the economy. A series of high-quality preliminary findings reports will be prepared first, followed by a series of seminars and the publication of academic papers.
A further motivation is to stimulate informed action - that is, to inform public policy debate within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as between policy-makers in both jurisdictions. The opportunities for policy coordination that could create mutual benefit are immense and include areas as diverse as training and skills development, the creation of good jobs, the facilitation of remote working, the adoption of new technologies, and the enhancement of labour mobility, including cross-border working.