Workplace Statistics
Current statistics from the most recent Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey indicate that approximately 30,000 people suffer from an illness which has been caused by, or made worse by work.As a consequence of the smaller population sample size within Northern Ireland (compared to GB), it has proven difficult (to date) to access additional reliable statistics for specific work-related illnesses, to the same extent as those available from HSE GB.
In an attempt to counteract this difficulty, this headline figure of 30,000 people is based on a rolling three-year period (Jan-Mar 2004 - Jan - Mar 2007)
Information is available here on Mental Health and Musculoskeletal disorders taken from the Continuous Household Survey as well as general Labour Force Survey data on health affecting work (both produced by NISRA).
As a consequence of the different methodologies used, results are not comparable between the two main survey types: Continuous Household Survey and the Labour Force Survey - and different results may be obtained. Following consultation with NISRA, Working for Health has been advised to use the Labour Force Survey as its primary dataset, as this provides a longer run of data (for comparison purposes with GB) and will also allow trends to be determined with time.
Public sector information can also be found here, via reports on sickness absence within NI Government Department / District Councils, as well as information from the NICS Staff Health and Wellbeing survey (carried out in 2005).
