Productivity

Abstract

Low productivity is central to Northern Ireland’s persistently poor economic performance, and key to improving the prospects for growth and prosperity of the province. The Northern Irish economy, which was once well-known for shipbuilding and the linen industry, has experienced severe structural headwinds as those industries experienced decline and have now disappeared. While the regional economy remains more concentrated in agriculture, construction and manufacturing relative to the rest of the UK, it is also seeing some new growth in specific areas of services, including the business services sector and the knowledge economy.