To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any measurable targets her Department has set for improving in-work progression.

My Department recognises the importance of inwork progression in supporting a more productive and inclusive economy. It is important to note that progression within employment is shaped significantly by employer practices, business need and wider labour market conditions.

A range of programmes, including Skills Focus, Assured Skills, ApprenticeshipsNI and Higher Level Apprenticeships, are designed to support individuals to upskill and progress within employment into highervalue roles.

While no target is set specifically for inwork progression, these programmes are subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation, which helps inform the Department’s approach to policy development.

Invest NI measures the level of corporate skills uplift and progression following their skills interventions through a structured evaluation. PPEs provide a formal, evidence-based assessment of project outcomes. The Economic Appraisal Framework for Skills and Training (EAFST) is Invest NI’s structured scoring tool used to appraise, prioritise and evaluate the impact of skills projects.

Career progression is one of a suite of indicators reported annually by NISRA in the Work Quality in Northern Ireland publication, defined as employees who agree or strongly agree that their job offers good opportunities for career progression. In 2025, 56.2% of employees reported such opportunities, with higher rates observed among younger workers, in high-skilled jobs and from the least deprived areas.