AQW 50025/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 30/06/2026
Answered On Date: 07/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any plans she has to strengthen collaboration between employers, training providers and government, to better align skills provision with local labour market needs.

Answer:

I am committed to strengthening collaboration between employers, training providers and government to ensure that skills provision remains responsive to the needs of the North of Ireland economy.

Through established Sectoral Partnerships, employers, training providers and industry representatives work together to shape apprenticeship frameworks, helping to ensure that provision reflects current and emerging skills needs.

The Department also engages regularly with employers, Further Education colleges, higher education institutions and training organisations to inform the development and delivery of skills programmes such as Assured Skills Academies which directly aligned to labour market demand, delivering pre-employment training helping individuals gain the skills they need to compete for guaranteed job vacancies.

Engagement with employers, providers and sectoral groups, including the Green Skills Delivery Group, helps identify current and emerging skills needs and informs policy and programme design.

In addition, the Department draws on labour market intelligence, including the Skills Barometer and Employer Skills Survey, to identify skills shortages and future workforce requirements. This evidence is used to inform policy development and investment decisions, helping to align publicly funded skills provision with labour market demand and economic priorities.

I will continue to promote strong partnership working between employers, training providers and government, supported by robust labour market evidence, to ensure that skills provision is aligned with the needs of businesses, supports economic growth and provides individuals with pathways to sustainable employment.