SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
The Foyle MLA, who is the Economy Committee Vice Chair, said: “We have two sets of problems: one is Covid, but this sits on top of long term, deep seated, weaknesses.
“There have been more than 10,000 redundancies this year as the Coronavirus pandemic has hit jobs.
“However, we already had an employment rate that was 5% below the UK national average – 70.5% against 75.3%.
“The level of economic inactivity in Northern Ireland is a long term problem, and the worst in these islands.”
“Northern Ireland has to not only put in place an economic recovery plan, but also has to address the deep seated problems in our economy.
“These relate to weak productivity, infrastructure deficits that we are only now getting to grips with and a severe shortage of necessary skills.
“We have to accelerate our vocational training programmes and ensure that all pupils leaving school have the basic skills needed to have a rewarding working life.”
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