Around 200 executives from across the British Isles descended on Galgorm Manor in Co Antrim today for the start of the annual Northern Ireland Economic Conference.

This year's conference is being dominated by the current economic crisis in Northern Ireland brought about by a number of high-profile jobs cuts from Bombardier, Harland and Wolff and Nortel over the past year.

One of a number of speakers today was Dr Esmond Birnie, the Chairman of the Assembly Committee for Employment and Learning, who told delegates about employability – which has been the subject of a government Taskforce study involving all 11 Stormont departments.

Dr Birnie said that according to certain indicators, Northern Ireland’s employment and unemployment performance had been better than the United Kingdom average since 1990, and had out-performed the European Union average with an employment rate of 67% compared to 65%.

He said that the Taskforce hinted that there may be an issue around the dramatic growth in the numbers of long-term sick and disabled during the last 20 years in Northern Ireland. However, among the most important areas in need of action were job creation and the effects of the benefit trap.

Dr Birnie added that evidence on the Republic of Ireland’s 'Back to Work' scheme, which allows a gradual phasing out of benefits in the transition to employment, had "not always received a positive response closer to home, with regard to the genuinely additional employment generated".

Dr Birnie added that the piloting experience of the ONE scheme had so far been mixed, with the pilot in Dungannon being extended for a further year to March 2003.

In relation to what Dr Birnie said was the "sometimes negative experience of participants on the New Deal programme," he said a critical question was the number of “clients” which a New Deal Personal Adviser can be expected to handle effectively.

He also called for a "much more focused approach to careers education and guidance" with a "more comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date service".

However, he highlighted the activities of the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership (NIBEP) for its work in forging links between teachers, lecturers and local business.

This year's keynote address was given by Northern Ireland-born Labour MP, Ruth Kelly, who is Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

Ms Kelly was recently promoted within Gordon Brown's Treasury team and is seen by many as one of Labour's up and coming stars.

Other delegates scheduled to speak at the conference are Northern Ireland's Minister for Finance and Personnel, Dr Sean Farren and Invest Northern Ireland chief executive, Leslie Morrison.

(MB/SP)