The economic basket case that is the North.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

The recession still hasn't truely hit the wee six, 2010 is the year when the civil service review hits and massive restructuring culls thousands of jobs in the norths biggest employer.

I really think that next year will see people here realise what a recession really is (like the "south" has suffered), house prices still have a fair bit to fall as well.

What do youse think?

[hectorsheroes]

I'd say thats not far of the mark. The public sector will be cut substantially and thats not really a surprise to most. The recession really hasn't hit here yet

[Gnevin]

I find the difference in attitudes to the Public service between North and South very interesting

[Mario]

I wouldn't say the north hasn't seen the recession yet, most of the people i know who work in construction are unemployed. Perhaps other sectors in the north won't see the worst of the recession because of the strong €.

The public sector in the north has been due cuts for years, some people there do nothing.

[Muhammed McCarthy]

They could get rid of about 100 MLA's......useless f**kers

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

I wouldn't say the north hasn't seen the recession yet, most of the people i know who work in construction are unemployed. Perhaps other sectors in the north won't see the worst of the recession because of the strong €.

The public sector in the north has been due cuts for years, some people there do nothing.

Mario certainly there are certain sectors of the workforce here that have already suffered mainly private sector, but considering that nearly 2/3rds of the workforce here are employed by the public sector both directly and indirectly the majority of the population here has been cushioned from the worst of the recession so far.

[Rafa]

I wouldn't say the north hasn't seen the recession yet, most of the people i know who work in construction are unemployed. Perhaps other sectors in the north won't see the worst of the recession because of the strong €.

The public sector in the north has been due cuts for years, some people there do nothing.

Mario certainly there are certain sectors of the workforce here that have already suffered mainly private sector, but considering that nearly 2/3rds of the workforce here are employed by the public sector both directly and indirectly the majority of the population here has been cushioned from the worst of the recession so far.

Would there be official figures or statistics for this anywhere?

The thing that worries me about the North is that there seems to be a vacuum of economic analysis compared to the South or Britain.

There doesn't seem to be any decent economics journalists or pundits preparing articles on the state of the economy with any kind of detailed analysis of how the global recession may be or yet to be affecting us.

Couple with this with the fact that we have some of the most inept and gormless (for want of a better word) ministers running the show it certainly doesn't bode well. Every week all you see in the business section of the Irish News or the Telegraph are photos of handshakes, its all about just being seen to be doing something.

[Mario]

I wouldn't say the north hasn't seen the recession yet, most of the people i know who work in construction are unemployed. Perhaps other sectors in the north won't see the worst of the recession because of the strong €.

The public sector in the north has been due cuts for years, some people there do nothing.

Mario certainly there are certain sectors of the workforce here that have already suffered mainly private sector, but considering that nearly 2/3rds of the workforce here are employed by the public sector both directly and indirectly the majority of the population here has been cushioned from the worst of the recession so far.

I thought your 2/3rd figure sounded excessive so i looked it up, more like 1/3rd, though that is still too high.

The below is taken from this link http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/2009-10_pay_and_workforce_technical_annex.pdf

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Fair enough, I used to think it was one in three but was told recently that including related businesses/services there were almost 60% employed.

Regardless, the north is in for a massive shock, considering that Britain the source of money that keeps the basket case ticking over is up shitcreek itself, sterling falling and not looking like recovering anytime soon, great for exports but as we all know an island will always import more then it exports. The government over there borrowing money that would make Irish politicans envious. To meet its debt obligations, the British government spent $9.6 billion in September, the largest monthly payment on record.
Now if unionist politicans here think that getting the Tories in will be good news then they need to remember that the Tories are essentially an English party now, and have little or no sympathy for the other "home" countries. You will see civil service jobs moving back to England from Scotland, Wales and the north and as for the money promised by Gordon Brown for the Policing and Justice transfer, you can forget that, the Tories have already said they don't have to honour any agreements made by other parties.

[delboy]

I wouldn't say the north hasn't seen the recession yet, most of the people i know who work in construction are unemployed. Perhaps other sectors in the north won't see the worst of the recession because of the strong €.

The public sector in the north has been due cuts for years, some people there do nothing.

Theres a fair chance you could put that figure up for most regions in the UK, excluding the affluent SE and you'd see a similar trend.


Mario certainly there are certain sectors of the workforce here that have already suffered mainly private sector, but considering that nearly 2/3rds of the workforce here are employed by the public sector both directly and indirectly the majority of the population here has been cushioned from the worst of the recession so far.

I thought your 2/3rd figure sounded excessive so i looked it up, more like 1/3rd, though that is still too high.

The below is taken from this link http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/2009-10_pay_and_workforce_technical_annex.pdf

Theres a fair chance you could put that figure up for most regions in the UK (excluding the affluent SE for reasons below) and you'd see a similar trend. The SE of england with its high affluence and job creation is the gorilla in the corner that will always skew these stats, making the other regions look dependent on handouts and public money..

[Caid]

These NI cuts have been coming for years. Having something like 5 Education Boards and 6 Health Boards in a place the size of the six counties is ridiculous.  Northern Ireland's dependence on the Public Sector and Construction is concerning - and I have been surprised at how well they have weathered the storm versus the South and England (although not that big of surprise vis-a-vis the South given the dramatic overinflation in property there).  I think NI property prices fell by maybe 30% last year.  Like with the South and the UK I think there needs to be more emphasis put on entrepreneurship and assistance given to people starting out on their own. And Stormont needs to stop looking over to Westminster with a bucket and start putting in place plans for a wonderful (but economically detremental) day when England washes its hands of the Six Counties and the money dries up completely.  If there was a United Ireland how much foreign investment would come to Belfast?  Cheaper labour versus the Republic might help at the start but over time this would level out.  The fluctuations of Sterling is actually a good thing for keeping a Country right in times like this (and the Euro will hurt the South over the next 10 years).  Reducing dependence on imports, turning back to a socialist culture, end this celebrity driven "I want more fancy stuff than my neighbour" Americanism that has crept in, and try to be more like the Icelandic people (albeit they have more natural resources and we will have an energy crisis).  Ireland is still attracive to US companies due tot he time difference and it being a first port of call in EUrope (plus a skilled, hard working, workforce)