Key Points
A summary of the key points in quarter one (April-June) 2025/26 are
as follows -
There were 10,967 vacancies notified to Department for Communities, increase of 285 (3%) from the previous quarter- the fourth quarter (January-March) of 2024/25 and an increase of 1,800 (20%) from the same quarter in 2024/25.
There were 7,024 full-time vacancies (64%), 2,950 part-time vacancies (27%) and 993 casual vacancies (9%).
The most frequently notified occupation types for vacancies were ‘Caring, Leisure and Other Service Occupations’ with 3,185 vacancies (29%), ‘Elementary Occupations’ with 2,185 vacancies (20%) and ‘Process, Plant and Machine Operatives’ with 1,234 vacancies (11%).
The industry type with the largest number of notified vacancies was ‘Administrative and Support Service’, accounting for 3,738 vacancies (34%), followed by ‘Human Health and Social Work’ (2,472 vacancies, 23%) and ‘Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security’ (1,723 vacancies, 16%).
The Jobs and Benefits Offices (JBOs) with the largest numbers of vacancies were Shaftesbury Square with 1,389 (13%), Lisburn with 932 (8%), Coleraine with 796 (7%), Belfast North with 682 (6%) and Antrim with 663 (6%).
35% (3,836) of vacancies were in the most deprived 20% of areas in Northern Ireland.
Introduction
This statistical factsheet, which is published three times a year
(along with a more detailed annual
bulletin), presents key information on employment vacancies
which have been notified to the Department for Communities (DfC). The
information is taken from the Department’s vacancy management service
(JobApplyNI) which is a
free website developed by DfC that offers a service for organisations
advertising vacancies and for jobseekers searching and applying for
jobs.
The statistics presented here do not relate to the total
unsatisfied demand for staff by employers, but to only those vacant
positions that have been notified by employers to DfC.
Supplementary tables accompanying this publication are available on the
DfC
website.
Quarterly Statistics and Trends
Trend Data
Employment vacancies for quarter one 2025/26 saw a 3% increase from
the previous quarter (quarter four 2024/25) and a 20% increase from
quarter one 2024/25. Whilst the past two years have seen fluctuation in
employment vacancy totals, in general there have been quarterly declines
for both NI and the UK as a whole (see notes section regarding
commentary on factors impacting vacancy trends).
Figure 1: Quarterly Notified Vacancies 2022/23 to 2025/26
Chart
Table
| Quarter | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Q1 2223 | 21,787 |
| Q2 2223 | 16,199 |
| Q3 2223 | 12,152 |
| Q4 2223 | 13,162 |
| Q1 2324 | 11,636 |
| Q2 2324 | 13,431 |
| Q3 2324 | 12,830 |
| Q4 2324 | 11,440 |
| Q1 2425 | 9,167 |
| Q2 2425 | 10,977 |
| Q3 2425 | 8,766 |
| Q4 2425 | 10,682 |
| Q1 2526 | 10,967 |
Vacancy Type
In quarter one 2025/26 some 64% of vacancies were full-time, while 27% related to part-time and 9% represented casual vacancies.
Figure 2: Notified Vacancies by Vacancy Type, Quarter One 2025/26
Chart
Table
| Job Type | Number of Vacancies | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time | 7,024 | 64% |
| Part-Time | 2,950 | 27% |
| Casual | 993 | 9% |
| Total | 10,967 | 100% |
Occupation Type
The chart below (Figure 3) presents the Standard Occupational
Classification 2020 (SOC 2020), which is used to organise vacancies
notified to DfC into job groups according to skill level and skill
specialisation. Further information, including definitions relating to
the Standard Occupational Classification (2020) can be found via the
links in the notes section.
The most frequently notified occupation types for vacancies were
‘Caring, Leisure and Other Service Occupations’ with 3,185 vacancies
(29%), ‘Elementary Occupations’ with 2,185 vacancies (20%) and ‘Process,
Plant and Machine Operatives’ with 1,234 vacancies (11%).
Figure 3: Notified Vacancies by SOC (2020) Group Titles, Quarter One 2025/26
Chart
Caring, Leisure and Other Service Occupations covers occupations whose tasks involve the provision of a service to customers, whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. (e.g. care of sick, elderly and infirm; care of children, personal care).
Table
| SOC 2020 Major Group | Number of Vacancies | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Caring, Leisure and Other Service Occupations | 3,185 | 29% |
| Elementary Occupations | 2,185 | 20% |
| Process, Plant and Machine Operatives | 1,234 | 11% |
| Professional Occupations | 1,173 | 11% |
| Sales and Customer Service Occupations | 1,025 | 9% |
| Skilled Trades Occupations | 744 | 7% |
| Associate Professional Occupations | 517 | 5% |
| Administrative and Secretarial Occupations | 389 | 4% |
| Managers, Directors and Senior Officials | 207 | 2% |
| Unknown | 308 | 3% |
| Total | 10,967 | 100% |
Industry Type
The Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC 2007) is used to
organise vacancies notified to DfC by the type of economic activity in
which they are engaged into 21 categories. Vacancies are assigned the
SIC 2007 code of the employer that notified them. Further information,
including definitions, relating to the SIC 2007 can be found via the
links in the notes section.
The industry type with the largest number of notified vacancies was
‘Administrative and Support Service’, accounting for 3,738 vacancies
(34%), followed by ‘Human Health and Social Work’ (2,472 vacancies, 23%)
and ‘Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security’
(1,723 vacancies, 16%).
The top 5 industrial classifications make up 82% (8,973) of the total number of vacancies notified in this quarter.
Figure 4: Notified Vacancies by SIC (2007) Section (Top 5), Quarter One 2025/26
Chart
Administrative and Support Service Activities includes a variety of activities that support general business such as reception, financial planning, billing and record keeping.
Table
| SIC 2007 Section | Number of Vacancies | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support Service | 3,738 | 34% |
| Human Health and Social Work | 2,472 | 23% |
| Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security | 1,723 | 16% |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles | 659 | 6% |
| Construction | 381 | 3% |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 303 | 3% |
| Education | 291 | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 274 | 2% |
| Information and Communication | 115 | 1% |
| Other Services | 95 | 1% |
| Real Estate Activities | 91 | 1% |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical | 90 | 1% |
| Transportation and Storage | 71 | 1% |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation | 64 | 1% |
| Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning Supply | 27 | 0% |
| Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management and Remediation | 22 | 0% |
| Mining and Quarrying | 15 | 0% |
| Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies | 13 | 0% |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 13 | 0% |
| Financial and Insurance | 6 | 0% |
| Activities of Households; Goods- and Services-Production for Own Use | 5 | 0% |
| Unknown | 499 | 5% |
| Total | 10,967 | 100% |
Jobs and Benefits Office
The map below (Figure 5) presents vacancies assigned to Jobs and Benefits Offices (JBOs). The purpose is not to rank JBOs by the number of notified vacancies, but rather to gain an understanding of the spread of notified vacancies at a local level.
Figure 5: Notified Vacancies by Jobs and Benefits Office, Quarter One 2025/26
Map
In the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year the JBOs with the largest numbers of vacancies were Shaftesbury Square with 1,389 (13%), Lisburn with 932 (8%), Coleraine with 796 (7%), Belfast North with 682 (6%) and Antrim with 663 (6%).
Table
| Jobs and Benefits Office | Number of Vacancies | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Square | 1,389 | 13% |
| Lisburn | 932 | 8% |
| Coleraine | 796 | 7% |
| Belfast North | 682 | 6% |
| Antrim | 663 | 6% |
| Ballymena | 644 | 6% |
| Holywood Road | 498 | 5% |
| Foyle | 488 | 4% |
| Enniskillen | 463 | 4% |
| Bangor | 376 | 3% |
| Newry | 359 | 3% |
| Knockbreda | 304 | 3% |
| Lisnagelvin | 238 | 2% |
| Strabane | 236 | 2% |
| Lurgan | 229 | 2% |
| Newtownards | 215 | 2% |
| Ballymoney | 212 | 2% |
| Armagh | 180 | 2% |
| Magherafelt | 176 | 2% |
| Downpatrick | 169 | 2% |
| Cookstown | 154 | 1% |
| Dungannon | 154 | 1% |
| Banbridge | 150 | 1% |
| Falls Road | 143 | 1% |
| Limavady | 143 | 1% |
| Newtownabbey | 128 | 1% |
| Ballynahinch | 125 | 1% |
| Andersonstown | 113 | 1% |
| Omagh | 106 | 1% |
| Larne | 102 | 1% |
| Carrickfergus | 98 | 1% |
| Portadown | 89 | 1% |
| Newcastle | 45 | 0% |
| Shankill Road | 34 | 0% |
| Kilkeel | 23 | 0% |
| Unknown | 111 | 1% |
| Total | 10,967 | 100% |
Deprivation
The NI Deprivation Measure (2017) divides Northern Ireland into 890
super output areas. Each area is assigned a rank according to its level
of deprivation, 1 being the most deprived and 890 the least. Further
information on the Deprivation Measures can be found in the notes
section.
In the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year 35% of vacancies were listed in the 20% most deprived areas while 19% of vacancies were located in the 20% least deprived areas.
Figure 6: Notified Vacancies by NIMDM, Quarter One 2025/26
Chart
Table
| NIMDM Quintile | Number of Vacancies | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Quintile 1 (most deprived) | 3,836 | 35% |
| Quintile 2 | 1,774 | 16% |
| Quintile 3 | 1,551 | 14% |
| Quintile 4 | 1,606 | 15% |
| Quintile 5 (least deprived) | 2,133 | 19% |
| Unknown | 67 | 1% |
| Total | 10,967 | 100% |
Notes
Background
This publication presents statistics on employment vacancies notified
to Department for Communities (DfC) in quarter one 2025/26 (April-June).
The information is taken from the department’s vacancy service JobApplyNI which went live
on 31 March 2022, replacing the previous vacancy service and websites.
JobApplyNI is a free website developed by DfC which offers a service for
organisations advertising vacancies and for jobseekers searching and
applying for jobs.
The previous legacy vacancy management system used the Client
Management System (CMS) and two associated websites (Employers Online
website and Jobseekers Online website). The time series from the
previous system ran from 2014/15 to 2021/22 incorporating improvements
which were made to the methodology for recording and validating vacancy
data from 2013 onwards. The introduction of JobApplyNI has led to
further efficiencies in notifying vacancy statistics.
JobApplyNI allows for more enhanced systematic validations
(e.g. identification of rejected vacancies) and allows for presentation
of updated SOC (2020) codes and as such caution should be exercised when
comparing data from 2022/23 onwards with that from previous
years.
Coverage
The relevant data are extracted from the JobApplyNI system each month
to form a vacancies database which is maintained by the Department’s
Analytics Division. The data presented in this statistical report are
derived from the vacancies database. Ongoing validation work and changes
made to this live database may result in data revisions. These revisions
are performed transparently, as soon as practicable and in accordance
with T3.9 of the UK Statistics
Authority Code of Practice for Statistics.
This factsheet presents vacancies notified to DfC. The statistics
presented do not relate to total unsatisfied demand for staff by
employers, only those vacant positions notified by employers to the
Department.
Trends
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces monthly analysis of
vacancy
statistics but NI companies are not approached because of the
risk of overlap with other surveys conducted by NI Departments.
Estimates for the UK are derived by weighing up the data for Great
Britain using employment estimates (NI accounts for around 3% of UK
employment). Labour market conditions impact vacancy trends, for
example, the 2021/22 financial year saw record number of UK vacancies
with the economy recovering from the impact of the pandemic but there
have been 36 successive monthly declines in vacancy numbers, as reported
in July 2025. Seasonal factors can also impact vacancy figures in-year
e.g. September would traditionally see higher levels of vacancies as
employers recruit in preparation for the festive season with December
vacancies relatively lower in comparison.
Initial vacancy numbers at the commencement of JobApplyNI during
April – June 2022 include vacancies migrated across from the previous IT
system so totals for this quarter were higher than envisaged.
Methodology and Definitions
Official Statistics
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics
Regulation (OSR).
OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness,
quality and value in the Code of
Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics
should adhere to.
You are welcome to contact us directly with
any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can
contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR
website.
UK Standard Occupational Classification 2020 (SOC 2020):
DfC assigns each vacancy the SOC 2020 code which best reflects the
main duties of the post. Vacancies are broken down by the nine SOC 2020
Major Group levels. Examples and information can be found in the SOC
2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups - Office for
National Statistics.
UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007):
Employers are assigned the SIC 2007 code which best reflects their
dominant activity by DfC. All vacancies are assigned the SIC 2007 code
of the notifying employer. Vacancies are broken down by SIC 2007 section
level. Information about SIC 2007 is available in the UK
Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC
2007): Structure and Explanatory Notes.
Note: Some employer organisations and vacancies have been reclassified from ‘Other Service Activities’ into more specific Industrial classifications, impacting data from the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year onwards.
Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2017 (NIMDM 2017)
The NIMDM 2017 is the official measure of deprivation in Northern Ireland and provides a relative measure of deprivation for geographical areas. NIMDM 2017 gives an overall measure of seven types of deprivation:
- Income Deprivation
- Employment Deprivation
- Health Deprivation & Disability
- Education, Skills & Training Deprivation
- Access to Services
- Living Environment
- Crime & Disorder
Northern Ireland’s 890 Super Output Areas (SOA) are ranked in terms
of deprivation level, which in turn, are grouped into five equal bands
known as quintiles. Vacancy statistics are presented by these quintile
bands: ranks 1-178 (most deprived), ranks 179-356, ranks 357-534, ranks
535-712 and ranks 713-890 (least deprived). Northern Ireland Multiple
Deprivation Measure ranks are based on the Super Output Area (SOA)
classification of the vacancy. SOA classifications are assigned to
vacancies using the latest Central Postcode Directory based on the
postcode of the employer’s account. When a valid employer’s account
postcode is not available, the postcode of the vacancy is used. Although
an employer’s account is within a particular SOA, the job may be based
elsewhere in Northern Ireland, in the UK or in the Republic of Ireland.