To ask the Minister for the Economy whether he will engage with the women’s sector in Northern Ireland to produce a women’s employment strategy.

The Department for Communities (DfC) has policy lead on employability and would be responsible for developing such a strategy. However, my Department makes a key contribution, particularly through our skills and education remit.

Education, training and skills development opportunities, at all levels, are available at our Higher Education Institutions, Further Education Colleges and through a range of other training providers.

In addition, our recently published Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland - Skills for a 10X Economy - has led to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Skills Council and a Skills Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee. The sub-committee considers access and participation in skills and education and aims to address barriers or issues that contribute to underrepresentation from those, for example, with a disability or of a particular gender or age.

Membership of the sub-committee includes representation from the women’s sector as well Union representation, the Equality Commission for NI and other Government Departments.

The Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Action Plan, co-designed by government and industry was published in March this year. The activities underpinning the action plan are creating an environment that encourages and supports more women to reach their full STEM potential in Northern Ireland.

My Department also continues to participate in the structures established by DfC to develop four social inclusion strategies, which includes one on gender.