Council targets higher-paid jobs as Causeway wages lag behind

Efforts are being made to attract more highly paid jobs to Causeway Coast and Glens after councillors were told the borough remains near the bottom of Northern Ireland's median wage rankings.

The issue was raised as members received an update on the council's economic development work, including business support, employment programmes, regeneration and major investment projects.

Councillor Anderson questioned what was being done to address local pay levels, saying the median salary in the Causeway area remained around £5,000 below the wider median.

In response, a council officer acknowledged the borough was among the lowest in Northern Ireland for median wages.

He said the make-up of the local economy was part of the challenge, with around 92% to 93% of businesses described as small businesses, many employing only two or three people.

Members were told the council was seeking to encourage higher-value employment through the Local Economic Partnership, with health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and agri-tech among the sectors being targeted.

Officials said improving employment opportunities would require wider partnership working involving universities, the Department for the Economy and other organisations.

The discussion came during a wider presentation on the work of the council's economic development team.

Councillors were told £1.5m in grants had been awarded to businesses over the past year, while 2,757 people had been engaged through business programmes.

The Labour Market Partnership was also highlighted, with 91 candidates securing employment during what officials described as an "exceptional year".

Members also heard about regeneration schemes and the Local Economic Partnership's three-year action plan, which is backed by £4.5m from the Department for the Economy.

Officials said the economic development service had a broad remit, with its work focused on securing investment and turning it into improved opportunities for people, businesses and places across the borough.