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For more information on this release:
E-mail: income&modules@cso.ie Felix Coleman (+353) 21 453 5129 Anne McGrath (+353) 21 453 5487
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN
CSO statistical release, , 11am

QNHS Equality

Quarter 3 2014

Persons who have experienced discrimination1 classified by employment status and nationality Q3, 2014
% of persons aged 18+
    Q3 20041Q4 20101Q3 2014
   
State  121212
Principal Economic Status    
At work 121111
Unemployed 292223
Student 181313
Home duties 111010
Retired 767
Others 231818
Nationality    
Irish 111111
Non-Irish 242017
1See footnotes table 1.1

12% of people aged 18 or over felt discriminated against

Fig 1 Persons who experienced discrimination by perceived grounds, Quarter 3 2014
go to full release

Summary of main Results

  • 12% of people aged 18 or over said that they felt discriminated against in the two years prior to the third quarter of 2014 (Q3 2014).  The rate was unchanged since the previous such survey for 2010. See table 1.1

  • The highest rates of discrimination were reported by people from non-white ethnic backgrounds (28%), and unemployed people (23%). See table 1.1 

  • 7% of people reported that they had experienced discrimination related to accessing services and 6% reported work-related discrimination. See table 2.1

  • The most common grounds identified by people who had experienced discrimination were age (24%) and race (21%). However, 41% of people who felt they had been discriminated against believed that the ground was not one included in the equality legislation. See table 2.2

  • Bullying or harassment (32%) and working conditions (22%) were the most common issues identified in workplace discrimination. See table 2.3

  • Almost two thirds (64%) of people who experienced discrimination in the two years prior to Q3 2014 did not take any action in response to their experience. See table 4.1

  • Just over a quarter (26%) of people aged 18 or over indicated they had a good understanding of their rights under Irish equality legislation. In contrast, 19% of people stated they had no understanding of their rights. See table 4.2

Section 1 Rates of Discrimination

Nearly one in eight people aged 18 or over said that they felt discriminated against in the two years prior to the third quarter of 2014.  This rate (12%) did not change since the last equality survey in Q4 2010.  The highest rates of perceived discrimination were found in the same groups in both surveys.  In the Q3 2014 survey the highest rates were among:  (See table 1.1).

    • People from non-white ethnic backgrounds (28%)
    • Unemployed people (23%)
    • Non-Irish nationals (17%)
    • People with a disability (16%) compared with those without a disability (11%)
%
At work11
Unemployed23
Student13
Home duties10
Retired7
Others18

Section 2 Type of discrimination and grounds

Type of Discrimination

Discrimination was almost equally likely to be related to accessing services or to be work-related.  While 7% of people reported that they had experienced discrimination related to accessing services, 6% reported work-related discrimination. See table 2.1 and fig 3

The highest rates of work-related discrimination were among those who were unemployed (17%) or from non-white ethnic backgrounds (14%). Respondents who believed they had been discriminated against at work were asked to identify the main focus of this discrimination. Bullying or harassment (32%) and working conditions (22%) were the most common issues identified by respondents.  In comparison, pay (12%) was far less likely to be the focus of workplace discrimination.  However, just under one fifth (18%) of respondents stated that they believed some other issue was the focus of the discrimination.  See table 2.3. 

In the two years prior to Q3 2014 the same groups of people were most at risk of discrimination when accessing services as in Q3 2010.  The highest rates were among people from non-white ethnic backgrounds (20%), people with disabilities (13%) or non-Irish nationals (11%). See table 2.1.

Looking in detail at the types of discrimination experienced, the most notable changes between Q4 2010 and Q3 2014 were the following: See table 2.4.

    • The percentage of people who felt they had been discriminated against when dealing with banks, insurance companies or other types of financial institutions fell from 21% to 16%.
    • The percentage of people who believed they had been discriminated against looking for work increased from 22% to 26%.

Men and women reported some differences in the type of discrimination they experienced.  Of those that felt they had been discriminated against in the two years prior to the survey, 31% of men believed they experienced discrimination while they were looking for work compared with 22% of women. See table 2.4

Grounds for Discrimination

The most common grounds identified by people who had experienced discrimination in the two years prior to the 2014 survey were age (24%) and  race/skin colour/ethnic group/nationality (21%). However, 41% of people who reported that they felt they had been discriminated against believed that the ground for the discrimination was not one of the nine grounds in the equality legislation. See table 2.2

While race and age were the most common grounds identified overall, there was additional variations in the most common grounds identified according to each type of discrimination.  See table 2.5. For example:

    • Race/skin colour/ethnic group/nationality (28%) and gender (17%) were the most common grounds identified by people who experienced discrimination in the workplace.
    • Age (46%) and race/skin colour/ethnic group/nationality (20%) were the most commonly reported by those who experienced discrimination while looking for work.
Work-related discriminationDiscrimination accessing services
Gender126
Marital status24
Family status99
Age2917
Disability38
Race/ Skin colour/ Ethnic group/ Nationality2421
Other2947

Section 3 Frequency and Effect of Discrimination

Frequency of Discrimination

For most types of discrimination the most common experience was that the discrimination happened ‘on a few occasions’. As might be expected, discrimination occurred most frequently in areas where people usually have more frequent interaction. Thus the highest incidence of 'more regular' discrimination was in the workplace (31%). See table 3.1

Effect of discrimination

Across each type of discrimination the most commonly reported impact was that the discrimination had ‘some effect’ on the respondent’s life.  However, the type of discrimination experienced did influence the seriousness of the effect it had on people’s lives. Less than a quarter (22%) of those who experienced discrimination in ‘shops, pubs or restaurants’ said it had a serious or very serious effect on their lives.  In contrast, nearly half of people (48%) who experienced discrimination accessing health services stated the discrimination had had a serious or very serious effect on their lives. See table 3.2.

Table 1.1 All Persons aged 18 years and over classified by their reported experience of discrimination1 in the previous two years,
September-November 20042, October-December 20102 and July-September 20142
       % of persons aged 18+
   Experienced discrimination  Unweighted sample (Number of
   Yes No persons aged 18 years and over)
   Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
State121212 888888 24,61016,82114,868
Region            
Border, Midland and Western 111211 898889 7,1494,6543,972
Southern and Eastern131212 878888 17,46112,16710,896
Sex           
Male121211 888889 9,3576,5865,885
Female131213 878887 15,25310,2358,983
Age group           
 18-24181313 828787 1,592854583
25-44141313 868787 9,4706,9145,618
45-64101213 908887 8,4365,6765,298
65+656 949594 5,1123,3773,369
Principal Economic Status           
At work121111 888989 12,7627,9947,438
Unemployed292223 717877 6921,5211,126
Student181313 828787 639570414
Home duties111010 899090 6,6413,8312,797
Retired767 939493 3,0132,2002,384
Others231818 778282 863705709
Nationality           
Irish111111 898989 23,09115,17013,434
Non-Irish242017 768083 1,5191,6511,434
Disability           
Yes201416 808484 3,4252,0122,165
No121111 888989 21,18514,80912,703
Religion           
Catholic111111 898989 21,59814,58512,308
Others3221816 788284 3,0122,2362,560
Ethnicity           
White ethnic backgrounds121111 888989 24,14616,39114,391
Other ethnic backgrounds322928 697172 464430477
Highest education level attained           
 Primary or below10810 909290 6,8643,1322,546
 Lower secondary121212 888888 4,0172,4361,932
Higher secondary121111 888989 5,3963,6983,104
Post leaving cert141514 868586 2,1871,8741,878
Third level141312 868788 5,7675,3035,145
Not stated201511 808589 379378263
              
1Persons in this category reported feeling discriminated against in at least one of the following areas: 'In the workplace', 'Looking for work', 'In places like
  shops, pubs or restaurants', 'Using the services of banks, insurance companies or financial institutions', 'Education', 'Obtaining housing or accommodation',
  'Accessing health services', 'Using transport services' and 'Accessing public services'.
2Results from 2004 are based on seasonal QNHS quarters. The 2010 and 2014 surveys were conducted after the introduction of calendar quarters to the QNHS.
3Includes not stated.
Data may be subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values, or estimates of change.
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 1.1 (XLS 39KB)
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Table 2.1 All persons aged 18 years and over classified by type of discrimination experienced in the past two years, September-November 2004,
 October-December 2010 and July-September 2014 
       % of persons aged 18+
   Type of discrimination1 Unweighted sample
   Work-related  Discrimination (Number of persons
   discrimination2 accessing services3 aged 18 years and over)
   Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
State566 977 24,61016,82114,868
 Region           
 Border, Midland and Western 556 887 7,1494,6543,972
 Southern and Eastern566 977 17,46112,16710,896
Sex            
 Male566 977 9,3576,5865,885
 Female566 978 15,25310,2358,983
Age group           
 18-24776 14910 1,592854583
 25-44777 1088 9,4706,9145,618
 45-64567 777 8,4365,6765,298
 65+011 656 5,1123,3773,369
Principal Economic Status           
 At work666 866 12,7627,9947,438
 Unemployed231617 131011 6921,5211,126
 Student556 171010 639570414
 Home duties223 988 6,6413,8312,797
 Retired111 656 3,0132,2002,384
 Others734 201615 863705709
Nationality           
 Irish556 877 23,09115,17013,434
 Non-Irish13129 171211 1,5191,6511,434
Disability           
 Yes536 171313 3,4252,0122,165
 No566 876 21,18514,80912,703
Religion           
 Catholic455 877 21,59814,58512,308
 Others41098 161110 3,0122,2362,560
Ethnicity           
 White ethnic background556 977 24,14616,39114,391
 Other ethnic background151714 241920 464430477
Highest education level attained           
 Primary or below322 868 6,8643,1322,546
 Lower secondary465 978 4,0172,4361,932
 Higher secondary555 977 5,3963,6983,104
 Post leaving cert688 988 2,1871,8741,878
 Third level768 1086 5,7675,3035,145
 Not stated996 1596 379378263
              
1This table allows for multiple responses for type of discrimination and grounds for discrimination. Therefore, the percentages do not sum to 100%.
2Includes categories: 'In the workplace' and 'Looking for work'.
3Persons in this category reported feeling discriminated against in at least one of the following areas: 'In places like shops, pubs or
 'restaurants', 'Using the services of banks, insurance companies or financial institutions', 'Education', 'Obtaining housing or accommodation' , 'Accessing
 health services', 'Using transport services' and 'Accessing public services'.
4Includes not stated.
Data may be subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values, or estimates of change.
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 2.1 (XLS 40KB)
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Table 2.2 Type of discrimination experienced by perceived grounds, September-November 2004, October-December 2010 and July-September 2014
        % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
   Type of discrimination1    
   Work-related  Discrimination Persons who experienced
   discrimination2 accessing services3 any types of discrimination
   Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
State414850 736361 100100100
Ground           
 Gender141112 1496 16119
 Marital status212 654 533
 Family status989 1389 1299
 Age 232129 231517 251924
 Disability523 668 656
 Race/Skin colour/Ethnic group/Nationality192724 152021 152221
 Other4363729 394747 394441
Unweighted Sample            
 Number of persons aged 18 years and over           
 who experienced discrimination1,119859841 2,0501,1871,043 2,8431,8561,699
              
1This table allows for multiple responses for type of discrimination and grounds for discrimination. Therefore, the percentages do not sum to 100%.
2Includes categories: 'In the workplace' and 'Looking for work'.  
3Includes categories: 'In places like shops, pubs or restaurants', 'Using services of banks, insurance companies or other institutions', 'Education', 'Obtaining housing
financial/accommodation', 'Accessing health services', 'Using transport services' and 'Accessing other public services at local or national level'.
4Includes categories 'Sexual orientation', 'Religious belief', 'Membership of the Traveller Community' and 'Other'.
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 2.2 (XLS 34KB)
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Table 2.3 Perceived focus of workplace discrimination, September-November 2004,
 October-December 2010 and July-September 2014  
 % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination in the workplace
  Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
State100100100
Focus of workplace discrimination   
 Pay14612
 Promotion16916
 Work conditions192422
 Bullying or harrassment252832
 Other253318
Unweighted Sample    
Number of persons aged 18 years and over   
who experienced discrimination in the workplace738554488
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 2.3 (XLS 30KB)
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Table 2.4 Persons who experienced discrimination by sex, type of discrimination and perceived grounds for discrimination, 
September-November 2004, October-December 2010 and July-September 2014 
       % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
  Males Females Total persons
  Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
Type of discrimination1           
 In the workplace252826 273331 263028
 Looking for work242631 151722 192226
 In shops, pubs or restaurants211717 211719 211718
 Banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions362416 231816 292116
 Education334 565 445
 Obtaining housing or accommodation10810 131011 11911
 Accessing health services11911 161315 131113
 Using transport services534 645 635
 Accessing public services81110 8107 8109
Grounds for discrimination1           
 Gender1483 171414 16119
 Marital status321 855 533
 Family status414 201514 1299
 Age 322025 181824 251924
 Disability756 456 656
 Race/Skin colour/Ethnic group/Nationality192626 111817 152221
 Other2404943 383939 394441
Unweighted sample            
 Number of persons aged 18 years and over           
 who experienced discrimination1,044696630 1,7991,1601,069 2,8431,8561,699
1This table allows for multiple responses for type of discrimination and grounds for discrimination. Therefore, the percentages do not sum to 100%. 
2Includes categories 'Sexual orientation', 'Religious belief', 'Membership of the Traveller Community' and 'Other'. 
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 2.4 (XLS 35KB)
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Table 2.5 Persons who experienced discrimination by social setting of discrimination and perceived grounds for discrimination, July-September 2014 
            
     % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
  Social setting of discrimination 
  Banks, insurance companies and other financial institutionsIn the workplaceLooking for workIn shops, pubs or restaurantsEducationObtaining housing accommodationAcessing health servicesUsing transport servicesAccessing other public servicesPersons who experienced discrimination in any setting
  
  
  
Grounds for discrimination1          
 Gender91756532349
 Marital status6211432253
 Family status5885151878119
 Age2212461811111812624
 Disability9438651020136
 Race/Skin colour/Ethnic group/Nationality1028203120248312321
 Sexual orientation1105001011
 Religious belief0213700201
 Membership of the Traveller Community202116131143
 Other42301918393058224135
Unweighted sample          
 (Number of persons aged 18 years and
 over who experienced discrimination)28348841429266150252801571,699
1 This table allows for multiple responses for grounds for discrimination. Therefore, the columns do not sum to 100%. 
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 2.5 (XLS 34KB)
upArrowHide Table
Table 3.1 Type of discrimination by frequency, July-September 2014  
  % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
   Frequency of discrimination 
        
   JustOn a fewMore Unweighted
   onceoccasionsregularlyTotalsample1
Type of discrimination      
 In the workplace 224831100488
 Looking for work 235917100414
 In shops, pubs or restaurants 205921100292
 Banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions394714100283
 Education 3259910066
 Obtaining housing or accommodation 235818100150
 Accessing health services 404316100252
 Using transport services 31472210080
 Accessing public services 284824100157
        
1Number of persons aged 18 years and over who experienced discrimination.  
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 3.1 (XLS 31KB)
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Table 3.2 Type of discrimination by effect on individuals' lives, July-September 2014 
   % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
   Effect of discrimination  
         
   Little orSomeSeriousVery serious Unweighted
   no effecteffecteffecteffectTotal sample1
Type of discrimination       
 In the workplace 16432516100488
 Looking for work 2246248100414
 In shops, pubs or restaurants 3938175100292
 Banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions29421712100283
 Education 2435241610066
 Obtaining housing or accommodation 20432314100150
 Accessing health services 15373216100252
 Using transport services 315013610080
 Accessing public services 11472913100157
         
1Number of persons aged 18 years and over who experienced discrimination. 
Data may be subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values, or estimates of change.
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 3.2 (XLS 32KB)
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Table 4.1 Persons who experienced discrimination in past two years by action taken, September-November 2004, October-December 2010 and July-September 2014
      % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
  Action taken1  
          Official complaint     
  Verbal action Written action  or legal action No action taken Unweighted sample2
  Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
State303025 788 91010 605964 2,8431,8561,699
Region                    
 Border, Midland and Western 312923 476 9911 616165 721503414
 Southern and Eastern293026 898 9109 595963 2,1221,3531,285
Sex                   
 Male272823 787 91010 636265 1,044696630
 Female333227 899 9109 575763 1,7991,1601,069
Age group                   
 18-242119[18] 45[6] 55[9] 7377[71] 294117[77]
 25-44323327 788 9910 585763 1,369914750
 45-64322926 11108 121310 545962 852649665
 65+373223 8127 10118 524965 328176207
Principal Economic Status                   
 At work313227 81010 91211 585560 1,463835819
 Unemployed242319 643 878 687072 201328274
 Student1722[22] 26[5] 73[11] 7572[70] 13394[63]
 Home duties323326 766 1187 586065 650350256
 Retired363523 10189 111810 483962 205125167
 Others343230 101110 121113 535858 191124120
Nationality                   
 Irish313025 8108 101110 575863 2,4821,5251,455
 Non-Irish212723 435 669 736666 361331244
Disability                   
 Yes353126 9128 121110 525760 615267326
 No293025 788 8910 616064 2,2281,5891,373
Religion                   
 Catholic312927 898 10109 586062 2,2441,4651,297
 Others3273320 668 7711 645767 599391402
Ethnicity                   
 White ethnic backgrounds313026 898 91010 595962 2,7031,7291,574
 Other ethnic backgrounds203011 234 766 756581 140127125
Highest education level attained                  
 Primary or below332527 686 91211 576459 637225225
 Lower secondary323132 984 9124 585962 431263213
 Higher secondary262622 676 969 636669 597380331
 Post leaving cert303026 598 10710 605861 280245241
 Third level313323 91010 101112 585563 825682657
 Not stated2430[20] 23[9] 28[6] 7360[72] 7361[32]
1Respondents were allowed to identify more than one type of action taken. Therefore, rows do not sum to 100%.        
2Number of persons aged 18 years and over who experienced discrimination.        
3Includes not stated.        
Data may be subject to sampling and other survey errors, which are relatively greater in respect of smaller values, or estimates of change.
Figures in parentheses [ ] indicate percentages based on small numbers, and are, therefore, subject to a wide margin of error
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 4.1 (XLS 43KB)
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Table 4.2 All persons aged 18 years and over classified by knowledge of their rights under Irish equality law, September-November 2004, October-December 2010 and  
 July-September 2014                
        % of persons aged 18+
   Knowledge of rights  
               Unweighted sample (Number of
   No understanding A little understanding A good understanding persons aged 18 years and over)
   Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014 Q4 2004Q4 2010Q3 2014
State 201819 535255 283026 24,61016,82114,868
Discrimination                
 Reported experiencing discrimination252221 494753 263127 2,8431,8561,699
 Reported no experience of discrimination191718 535356 283026 21,76714,96513,169
 Region                 
 Border, Midland, Western  232122 535355 242622 7,1494,6543,972
 Eastern & Southern 191617 535255 293127 17,46112,16710,896
Sex                
 Male 181619 525354 293127 9,3576,5865,885
 Female 211919 535256 `2925 15,25310,2358,983
Age group                
 18-24 242125 525753 232323 1,592854583
 25-44 181517 525356 303227 9,4706,9145,618
 45-64 171615 535056 313429 8,4365,6765,298
 65+ 272625 545254 192220 5,1123,3773,369
Principal Economic Status                
 At work 161214 525255 333630 12,7627,9947,438
 Unemployed 282126 505555 212519 6921,5211,126
 Student 201821 565550 242630 639570414
 Home duties 272725 555259 182117 6,6413,8312,797
 Retired 212020 545154 252926 3,0132,2002,384
 Others 332930 505052 172119 863705709
Nationality                
 Irish 181718 535356 283127 23,09115,17013,434
 Non-Irish 382728 445052 182320 1,5191,6511,434
Disability                
 Yes 322829 505254 182017 3,4252,0122,165
 No 181717 535255 293027 21,18514,80912,703
Religion                
 Catholic 191818 545356 273025 21,59814,58512,308
 Others1 251920 465151 293129 3,0122,2362,560
Ethnicity                
 White ethnic backgrounds 191718 535255 283026 24,14616,39114,391
 Other ethnic backgrounds 422729 454951 132420 464430477
Highest education level attained               
 Primary or below 313332 545355 151413 6,8643,1322,546
 Lower secondary 212123 575560 232417 4,0172,4361,932
 Higher secondary 171617 545559 292924 5,3963,6983,104
 Post leaving cert 181819 545558 292723 2,1871,8741,878
 Third level 111012 474851 424237 5,7675,3035,145
 Not stated 402431 445149 152519 379378263
1Includes not stated.                
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 4.2 (XLS 41KB)
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Table 4.3 Persons aged 18 years and over classified by action taken and knowledge of rights under Irish equality law,
July to September 2014     
 % of persons aged 18+ who experienced discrimination
         
  Action Taken1 Unweighted Sample
    OfficialNo (Number of persons who
  VerbalWrittencomplaint or action felt discriminated against
  actionactionlegal actiontaken in the last two years)
State2581064  1,699
Knowledge of rights        
 No understanding255766  337
 Understand a little267865  899
 Understand a lot24111559  463
1Respondents were allowed to identify more than one type of action taken. Therefore, rows do not sum to 100%.
Open in Excel: QNHS Equality Module Q3 2014 Table 4.3 (XLS 31KB)
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Background Notes

Survey description and Reference Period

A questionnaire on equality was included in the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) in the three months from July to September 2014 (Quarter 3).  The questionnaire referred to discrimination experienced in the two years previous to that time period. An equality module was also included on the QNHS in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 2004.  However, it should be noted that in 2009 the QNHS moved from seasonal to calendar quarters.  Therefore, the 2004 survey was conducted from September to November.

 

Purpose of survey    

The QNHS began in September 1997, replacing the annual April Labour Force Survey (LFS). The purpose of the survey is the production of quarterly labour force estimates and occasional reports on special social topics. The survey meets the requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No. 577/98, adopted in March 1998, which requires the introduction of quarterly labour force surveys in EU member states.

 

Questionnaire  

The questionnaire focused on discrimination based on the nine grounds defined in Irish equality legislation.  The nine types of discrimination examined in the survey were ‘In the Workplace', 'Looking for Work', 'In places like shops, pubs or restaurants', 'Using services of banks, insurance companies or financial institutions', ‘Education’, 'Obtaining housing or accommodation', 'Accessing health services’,  ‘Using transport services', and 'Accessing public services'.

  A copy of the questionnaire is available on the CSO website www.cso.ie at www.cso.ie/en/qnhs/qnhsmethodology/

 

Discrimination

Respondents were shown the following definition of discrimination before they began the module questionnaire:

Under Irish law, discrimination takes place when one person or a group of persons are treated less favourably than others because of their

  • gender
  • marital status
  • family status
  • age
  • disability
  • ‘race’(race, skin colour, nationality or ethnic origin)
  • sexual orientation
  • religious belief
  • and/or membership of the Traveller Community.

 

When the term discrimination is used in this questionnaire it refers to this legal definition only.

If you believe you were treated less favourably than someone else but it was for another reason (e.g. your qualifications, being over an income limit or because you are further back in a queue for something), this is not considered discrimination under Irish law.

 

Grossing effect                

The QNHS grossing procedure aligns the distribution of persons covered in the survey with independently determined population estimates at the level of sex, five-year age group and region.

  

Statistical significance

All estimates based on sample surveys are subject to error, some of which is measurable. Where an estimate is statistically significantly different from another estimate it means that we can be 95% confident that differences between those two estimates are not due to sampling error.  Unless otherwise stated, changes and differences mentioned in the text have been found to be statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.

 

Disability

Respondents are classified as having a disability if they indicate that they have any of the long-lasting conditions or difficulties listed in the following question:

Do you have any of the following long-lasting conditions or difficulties?

 

  1. Blindness or a serious vision impairment
  2. Deafness or a serious hearing impairment
  3. A difficulty with basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting or carrying
  4. An intellectual disability
  5. A difficulty with learning, remembering or concentrating
  6. A psychological or emotional condition
  7. A difficulty with pain, breathing, or any other chronic illness or condition
  8. None

 

Urban/rural location    

The country is divided up into 8 strata based on population density.  These areas are further classified into urban and rural areas as follows: 

Rural

  • Mixed urban/rural areas
  • Rural areas.

 

NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions

The regional classifications in this release are based on the NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units) classification used by Eurostat.  The NUTS3 regions correspond to the eight Regional Authorities established under the Local Government Act, 1991 (Regional Authorities) (Establishment) Order, 1993, which came into operation on 1 January 1994.  The NUTS2 regions, which were proposed by Government and agreed by Eurostat in 1999, are groupings of the NUTS3 regions.  The composition of the regions is set out below.

Border, Midlands and Western NUTS 2 Region

Border

Cavan

Donegal

Leitrim

Louth

Monaghan

Sligo

Midland

Laois

Longford

Offaly

Westmeath

West

Galway City

Galway County

Mayo

Roscommon

Southern and Eastern NUTS2 Region

Dublin

Dublin

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

Fingal

South Dublin

Mid-East

Kildare

Meath

Wicklow

Mid-West

Clare

Limerick City

Limerick County

North Tipperary

South-East

Carlow

Kilkenny

South Tipperary

Waterford City

Waterford County

Wexford

South-West

Cork City

Cork County

Kerry 

 

Principal Economic Status Classification

Results are also available using the Principal Economic Status (PES) classification which was used in the Labour Force Survey and the Census of Population. The PES classification is based on a single question in which respondents are asked what is their usual situation with regard to employment and given the following response categories:

 

• At work

• Unemployed

• Student

• Engaged on home duties

• Retired

• Other.

Highest level of education attained

This classification is derived from a single question and refers to educational standards that have been attained and can be compared in some measurable way and it is included in the core QNHS on an ongoing basis.

The question is phrased as follows:

What is the highest level of education or training you have attained?

QNHS Social Modules

While the main purpose of the QNHS is the production of quarterly labour force estimates, there is also a provision for the collection of data on social topics through the inclusion of special survey modules. The selection of the major national modules undertaken to date has been largely based on the results of a canvass of users (over 100 organisations) that was conducted by the CSO in 1996, 2002, 2006, 2008 and most recently 2011. The results of the canvass are presented to the National Statistics Board and they are asked to indicate their priorities for the years ahead. The schedule for social modules in any given year is based on the following structure:

Quarter 1

Annual modules including Accidents and Illness and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Quarter 2

EU module (always covered under EU legislation)

Quarter 3

National module.

Quarter 4

National module.

The table below outlines some of the social modules published to date in the QNHS.

Quarter  Social Module

Q3 2013 Volunteering and Wellbeing

Q2 2013 Sports and Physical Exercise

Q3 2012  Effect on Households of the Economic Downturn

Q2 2012  Retirement Planning

Q2 2012  Parental Involvement in Children’s Education

Q2 2012  Union Membership

Q1 2012  Unemployment Thematic Report

Q2 2011  Response of Households to the Economic Downturn

Q2 2011  Educational Attainment Thematic Report

Q2 2011  Voter Participation

Q4 2010  Equality

Q3 2010  Health

Q2 2010  Cross Border Shopping

Q2 2010  Educational Attainment

Q1 2010  Crime and Victimisation

Q4 2009  Pensions

Q3 2009  Carers

Q2 2009  Union Membership

Q2 2009  Cross Border Shopping

Q3 2008  Lifelong Learning

Q1 2008  Pension Provision

Q4 2007  Childcare

Q3 2007  Health

Q2 2007  Union Membership

Q1 2007  Work–related Accidents and Illness (Q1 2003-Q1 2007)

Q4 2006  Crime and Victimisation

Q3 2006  Sport and Physical Exercise

Q4 2005  Pension Provision

Q4 2005  Special Saving Incentive Accounts (SSIAs)

Q3 2005  Recycling and Energy Conservation

Q2 2005  Reconciliation Between Work and Family Life

Q2 2005  Educational Attainment

Q1 2005  Childcare

Q4 2004  Equality

Q2 2004  Union Membership

Q2 2004  Work Organisation and working time

Q4 2003  Crime and Victimisation

Q3 2003  Housing

Q2 2003  Life long learning

 

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