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Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions 2015-2021

Employment Levels

Online ISSN: 3088-6589

CSO statistical release, 01 November 2023, 11am

Introduction

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has developed indicators to provide a comparison of the employment levels of those who have received two types of justice sanction (former prisoners and former probationers) to the wider employee population. Not all persons linked to sanctions such as probation or prison, like the wider population, are actively working. This chapter provides a comparison of persons who either received a probation order or who were released from prison in 2018, and who are active in the labour market, with employment estimates of the wider population.

In this analysis, the characteristics of persons who received either a probation order or who were released from prison in 2018 have been matched to data of their employment as employees provided to the CSO by the Revenue Commissioners from the years 2019 until 2023. See Background Notes for more information. The matching years were selected to provide comparisons with existing employment indices that have also been created from administrative data. This allows the statistical analysis to chart the employment dynamics of those who have received justice sanctions over time. The linkage and analysis were undertaken by the CSO for statistical purposes in line with the Statistics Act, 1993 and the CSO Data Protocol.

Employee index calculation

The employment indexes in this publication covering former prisoners and former probationers has been calculated using the CSO’s existing methodology and publication of the Monthly Estimates of Payroll Employees using Administrative Data Sources. Using Administrative Data this publication calculates the estimated indexed number of employees, using Revenue’s PAYE Modernisation as the data source. The series provides estimates of the number of employees by sex and NACE economic sector. The sectors of economic activity included were determined in accordance with the NACE Rev. 2 classification scheme. Persons are counted if they are estimated to have worked for greater than zero pay during the reference month.

Further details of the methodology can be found in the Background Notes of this publication and in the CSO’s current publication using equivalent employment estimates.

Probation employee index rose by 13% between January 2019 and January 2023

Overall, the probation employee index increased by 13% from January 2019 to January 2023. In a similar trend, the employment index for all persons also increased by 13% during the same period. However, in 2020 the probation employment fell at a greater rate during the beginning of COVID-19 when compared to all employees. In April 2020, the index representing the number of persons in employment who had received probation in 2018 fell by 23% compared to 13% for all employees. See Figure 3.1 and Table 3.1.

	Employee Index	Probation Index
2019 January	97.7	95.4
2019 February	97.3	94.9
2019 March	98.4	97.6
2019 April	98.6	97.2
2019 May	100.2	101.2
2019 June	101	99.1
2019 July	100.5	98.2
2019 August	101.5	101.3
2019 September	101.1	104.4
2019 October	100.8	104
2019 November	101.4	104.6
2019 December	101.4	102.2
2020 January	101.4	101.7
2020 February	100.8	100.2
2020 March	101.5	100.3
2020 April	87.9	76.9
2020 May	86.8	76.6
2020 June	90.7	83.6
2020 July	95.1	90.9
2020 August	97.2	94.9
2020 September	97.1	97.3
2020 October	96.9	97.8
2020 November	93.9	93.5
2020 December	96.9	96.6
2021 January	93.4	88.9
2021 February	88.8	80.6
2021 March	90.3	82.2
2021 April	91.9	87.9
2021 May	96.2	95.5
2021 June	100.1	100.5
2021 July	101.7	103.1
2021 August	102.6	105.7
2021 September	103.7	108.2
2021 October	104.4	110.1
2021 November	105	111.4
2021 December	105.4	111.1
2022 January	105.5	110.7
2022 February	105.6	111
2022 March	107	111.1
2022 April	108.1	111.6
2022 May	109.2	112.9
2022 June	110.5	112.6
2022 July	110.4	111.9
2022 August	110.5	110.8
2022 September	111.2	112.4
2022 October	110.8	110.1
2022 November	111.7	110.7
2022 December	111.7	108.1
2023 January	110.9	108.1
2023 February	110.3	109.4
2023 March	111.1	108.7

Table 3.1 Employee and probation employee index and number of employees

Table 3.1 Employee and probation employee index and number of employees
Year	Month	Employee index¹ (base year 2019=100)	Probation index (base year 2019=100)	Total number of employees	Total number of probationers	Monthly % change	Monthly % change (probationers)	Annual % change	Annual % change (probationers)
2019	January	97.7	95.4	2,105,500	1,241	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	February	97.3	94.9	2,095,500	1,234	-0.4	-0.6	N/A	N/A
	March	98.4	97.6	2,120,300	1,270	1.1	2.9	N/A	N/A
	April	98.6	97.2	2,123,000	1,264	0.2	-0.5	N/A	N/A
	May	100.2	101.2	2,157,300	1,316	1.6	4.1	N/A	N/A
	June	101.0	99.1	2,176,100	1,289	0.8	-2.1	N/A	N/A
	July	100.5	98.2	2,165,600	1,277	-0.5	-0.9	N/A	N/A
	August	101.5	101.3	2,186,500	1,318	1.0	3.2	N/A	N/A
	September	101.1	104.4	2,176,800	1,358	-0.4	3.0	N/A	N/A
	October	100.8	104.0	2,172,000	1,353	-0.3	-0.4	N/A	N/A
	November	101.4	104.6	2,183,800	1,361	0.6	0.6	N/A	N/A
	December	101.4	102.2	2,185,200	1,330	0.0	-2.3	N/A	N/A

2020	January	101.4	101.7	2,183,100	1,323	0.0	-0.5	3.7	6.6
	February	100.8	100.2	2,171,000	1,304	-0.6	-1.4	3.6	5.7
	March	101.5	100.3	2,187,000	1,305	0.7	0.1	3.4	2.8
	April	87.9	76.9	1,893,600	1,000	-13.4	-23.4	-10.5	-20.9
	May	86.8	76.6	1,869,100	997	-1.3	-0.3	-13.1	-24.2
	June	90.7	83.6	1,954,500	1,088	4.5	9.1	-10.4	-15.6
	July	95.1	90.9	2,048,300	1,182	4.9	8.6	-5.7	-7.4
	August	97.2	94.9	2,093,900	1,235	2.2	4.5	-4.3	-6.3
	September	97.1	97.3	2,091,600	1,266	-0.1	2.5	-4.2	-6.8
	October	96.9	97.8	2,087,200	1,273	-0.2	0.6	-4.0	-5.9
	November	93.9	93.5	2,021,800	1,217	-3.1	-4.4	-7.5	-10.6
	December	96.9	96.6	2,086,400	1,257	3.2	3.3	-4.5	-5.5

2021	January	93.4	88.9	2,010,800	1,156	-3.6	-8.0	-7.7	-12.6
	February	88.8	80.6	1,912,700	1,048	-4.9	-9.3	-11.6	-19.6
	March	90.3	82.2	1,944,200	1,070	1.7	2.1	-10.9	-18.0
	April	91.9	87.9	1,979,800	1,144	1.8	6.9	4.3	14.4
	May	96.2	95.5	2,072,100	1,242	4.7	8.6	10.9	24.6
	June	100.1	100.5	2,156,400	1,307	4.1	5.2	10.5	20.1
	July	101.7	103.1	2,191,400	1,341	1.6	2.6	7.0	13.5
	August	102.6	105.7	2,211,000	1,375	0.9	2.5	6.0	11.3
	September	103.7	108.2	2,233,200	1,408	1.1	2.4	6.9	11.2
	October	104.4	110.1	2,249,200	1,432	0.7	1.7	8.0	12.5
	November	105.0	111.4	2,262,000	1,449	0.6	1.2	12.0	19.1
	December	105.4	111.1	2,270,800	1,446	0.4	-0.2	8.8	15.0

2022	January	105.5	110.7	2,271,900	1,440	0.1	-0.4	12.9	24.6
	February	105.6	111.0	2,274,800	1,444	0.1	0.3	18.4	37.8
	March	107.0	111.1	2,305,800	1,445	1.3	0.1	17.8	35.0
	April	108.1	111.6	2,328,300	1,452	1.0	0.5	16.9	26.9
	May	109.2	112.9	2,352,500	1,469	1.0	1.2	13.2	18.3
	June	110.5	112.6	2,380,300	1,465	1.2	-0.3	10.5	12.1
	July	110.4	111.9	2,376,900	1,456	-0.1	-0.6	9.0	8.6
	August	110.5	110.8	2,381,100	1,442	0.1	-1.0	8.4	4.9
	September	111.2	112.4	2,396,000	1,462	0.6	1.4	7.7	3.8
	October	110.8	110.1	2,386,800	1,433	-0.4	-2.0	6.4	0.1
	November	111.7	110.7	2,405,800	1,440	0.8	0.5	6.4	-0.6
	December	111.7	108.1	2,406,200	1,406	0.0	-2.4	5.8	-2.8

2023	January	110.9	108.1	2,388,000	1,406	-0.7	0.0	5.0	-2.4
	February	110.3	109.4	2,375,400	1,423	-0.5	1.2	4.2	-1.5
	March	111.1	108.7	2,393,900	1,414	0.7	-0.6	3.4	-2.1
¹ Care should be taken in interpreting these results due to the different characteristics of cohorts, one set is panel data while the other is dynamic.

Open in Excel: Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions 2015-2021 Table 3.1 (XLS 14KB)

Prison employment index rose by 19% between January 2019 and January 2023

Overall, the Prison Employment index increased by 19% from January 2019 to January 2023 while the Employment Index for all persons increased by 14% during the same period. COVID-19 had a greater impact on the employment of former prisoners when compared to all employees however the effect was slightly less pronounced than the effect that COVID-19 had on probation related employees. In April 2020, the index representing the number of employed former prisoners released in 2018 fell by 20% compared to a 13% for all employees. See Figure 3.2 and Table 3.2.

	Employee Index	Probation Index
2019 January	97.7	92.2
2019 February	97.3	93.8
2019 March	98.4	99.7
2019 April	98.6	99.7
2019 May	100.2	101.6
2019 June	101	99.7
2019 July	100.5	97.4
2019 August	101.5	102.3
2019 September	101.1	105.7
2019 October	100.8	104
2019 November	101.4	104.2
2019 December	101.4	99.5
2020 January	101.4	99.7
2020 February	100.8	103.5
2020 March	101.5	103.5
2020 April	87.9	83.2
2020 May	86.8	83.2
2020 June	90.7	87.4
2020 July	95.1	92.4
2020 August	97.2	96.4
2020 September	97.1	97.8
2020 October	96.9	98.1
2020 November	93.9	98.8
2020 December	96.9	100.2
2021 January	93.4	94.3
2021 February	88.8	83.9
2021 March	90.3	85.3
2021 April	91.9	89.3
2021 May	96.2	97.6
2021 June	100.1	103.8
2021 July	101.7	106.8
2021 August	102.6	105.7
2021 September	103.7	106.6
2021 October	104.4	110.9
2021 November	105	110.4
2021 December	105.4	106.6
2022 January	105.5	109.5
2022 February	105.6	111.6
2022 March	107	114
2022 April	108.1	114.7
2022 May	109.2	116.8
2022 June	110.5	112.1
2022 July	110.4	112.3
2022 August	110.5	115.1
2022 September	111.2	117
2022 October	110.8	112.8
2022 November	111.7	113.7
2022 December	111.7	110.2
2023 January	110.9	109.9
2023 February	110.3	107.6
2023 March	111.1	106.8

Table 3.2 Employee and prison employee index and number of employees

Table 3.2 Employee and prison employee index and number of employees
Year	Month	Employee index¹ (base year 2019=100)	Prison index (base year 2019=100)	Total number of employees	Total number of prisoners	Monthly % change	Monthly % change (prisoners)	Annual % change	Annual % change (prisoners)
2019	January	97.7	92.2	2,105,500	389	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	February	97.3	93.8	2,095,500	396	-0.4	1.8	N/A	N/A
	March	98.4	99.7	2,120,300	421	1.1	6.3	N/A	N/A
	April	98.6	99.7	2,123,000	421	0.2	0.0	N/A	N/A
	May	100.2	101.6	2,157,300	429	1.6	1.9	N/A	N/A
	June	101.0	99.7	2,176,100	421	0.8	-1.9	N/A	N/A
	July	100.5	97.4	2,165,600	411	-0.5	-2.4	N/A	N/A
	August	101.5	102.3	2,186,500	432	1.0	5.1	N/A	N/A
	September	101.1	105.7	2,176,800	446	-0.4	3.2	N/A	N/A
	October	100.8	104.0	2,172,000	439	-0.3	-1.6	N/A	N/A
	November	101.4	104.2	2,183,800	440	0.6	0.2	N/A	N/A
	December	101.4	99.5	2,185,200	420	0.0	-4.5	N/A	N/A

2020	January	101.4	99.7	2,183,100	421	0.0	0.2	3.7	8.2
	February	100.8	103.5	2,171,000	437	-0.6	3.8	3.6	10.4
	March	101.5	103.5	2,187,000	437	0.7	0.0	3.4	3.8
	April	87.9	83.2	1,893,600	351	-13.4	-19.7	-10.5	-16.6
	May	86.8	83.2	1,869,100	351	-1.3	0.0	-13.1	-18.2
	June	90.7	87.4	1,954,500	369	4.5	5.1	-10.4	-12.4
	July	95.1	92.4	2,048,300	390	4.9	5.7	-5.7	-5.1
	August	97.2	96.4	2,093,900	407	2.2	4.4	-4.3	-5.8
	September	97.1	97.8	2,091,600	413	-0.1	1.5	-4.2	-7.4
	October	96.9	98.1	2,087,200	414	-0.2	0.2	-4.0	-5.7
	November	93.9	98.8	2,021,800	417	-3.1	0.7	-7.5	-5.2
	December	96.9	100.2	2,086,400	423	3.2	1.4	-4.5	0.7

2021	January	93.4	94.3	2,010,800	398	-3.6	-5.9	-7.7	-5.5
	February	88.8	83.9	1,912,700	354	-4.9	-11.1	-11.6	-19.0
	March	90.3	85.3	1,944,200	360	1.7	1.7	-10.9	-17.6
	April	91.9	89.3	1,979,800	377	1.8	4.7	4.3	7.4
	May	96.2	97.6	2,072,100	412	4.7	9.3	10.9	17.4
	June	100.1	103.8	2,156,400	438	4.1	6.3	10.5	18.7
	July	101.7	106.8	2,191,400	451	1.6	3.0	7.0	15.6
	August	102.6	105.7	2,211,000	446	0.9	-1.1	6.0	9.6
	September	103.7	106.6	2,233,200	450	1.1	0.9	6.9	9.0
	October	104.4	110.9	2,249,200	468	0.7	4.0	8.0	13.0
	November	105.0	110.4	2,262,000	466	0.6	-0.4	12.0	11.8
	December	105.4	106.6	2,270,800	450	0.4	-3.4	8.8	6.4

2022	January	105.5	109.5	2,271,900	462	0.1	2.7	12.9	16.1
	February	105.6	111.6	2,274,800	471	0.1	1.9	18.4	33.1
	March	107.0	114.0	2,305,800	481	1.3	2.1	17.8	33.6
	April	108.1	114.7	2,328,300	484	1.0	0.6	16.9	28.4
	May	109.2	116.8	2,352,500	493	1.0	1.9	13.2	19.7
	June	110.5	112.1	2,380,300	473	1.2	-4.1	10.5	8.0
	July	110.4	112.3	2,376,900	474	-0.1	0.2	9.0	5.1
	August	110.5	115.1	2,381,100	486	0.1	2.5	8.4	9.0
	September	111.2	117.0	2,396,000	494	0.6	1.6	7.7	9.8
	October	110.8	112.8	2,386,800	476	-0.4	-3.6	6.4	1.7
	November	111.7	113.7	2,405,800	480	0.8	0.8	6.4	3.0
	December	111.7	110.2	2,406,200	465	0.0	-3.1	5.8	3.3

2023	January	110.9	109.9	2,388,000	464	-0.7	-0.2	5.0	0.4
	February	110.3	107.6	2,375,400	454	-0.5	-2.2	4.2	-3.6
	March	111.1	106.8	2,393,900	451	0.7	-0.7	3.4	-6.2
¹ Care should be taken in interpreting these results due to the different characteristics of cohorts, one set is panel data while the other is dynamic.

Open in Excel: Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions 2015-2021 Table 3.2 (XLS 14KB)

Female former probationers links to earnings increased more than males after 2022

Both the female and male probation employee indices displayed similar increases and declines in employment up until September 2021. However, as COVID-19 restrictions were progressively lifted the female indices (14% growth annually from 1st January 2021) showed a greater extent of employment engagement than the male equivalent measure (12% annually from the 1st of January 2021). See Figure 3.3 and Table 3.3.

	Male probationers (2018)	Female probationers (2018)
2019 January	95.3	95.5
2019 February	95.2	92.1
2019 March	98.2	93.8
2019 April	97.8	93.2
2019 May	101.7	97.7
2019 June	99.3	97.7
2019 July	97.9	100
2019 August	100.7	105.1
2019 September	104.3	105.1
2019 October	103.7	105.1
2019 November	104.1	107.3
2019 December	101.9	104
2020 January	101.7	101.1
2020 February	99.6	103.4
2020 March	100	101.7
2020 April	77.1	75.1
2020 May	77.5	70.6
2020 June	84.7	76.8
2020 July	91.3	88.1
2020 August	95.5	91
2020 September	97.6	94.9
2020 October	97.8	97.7
2020 November	94	89.8
2020 December	96.1	99.4
2021 January	89.2	86.4
2021 February	80.4	81.4
2021 March	82.2	81.9
2021 April	88.2	85.9
2021 May	95.6	94.4
2021 June	100.1	102.3
2021 July	102.7	105.1
2021 August	105.5	106.2
2021 September	107.7	110.7
2021 October	109.1	115.8
2021 November	109.7	121.5
2021 December	109.7	119.8
2022 January	109.2	115.3
2022 February	109.2	121.5
2022 March	109.1	122.6
2022 April	109.3	125.4
2022 May	110.5	127.7
2022 June	110.1	127.7
2022 July	109.9	123.7
2022 August	108.6	124.3
2022 September	109.4	130.5
2022 October	107.7	124.9
2022 November	108.3	124.9
2022 December	105.4	124.3
2023 January	105.9	121.5
2023 February	107.4	122
2023 March	106.7	121.5

Table 3.3 Employee probation index by sex

Table 3.3 Employee probation index by sex
		Male probationers (2018)			Female probationers (2018)
Year	Month	Employee index¹ (base year 2019=100)	Monthly % change	Annual % change	Employee index¹ (base year 2019=100)	Monthly % change	Annual % change
2019	January	95.3	N/A	N/A	95.5	N/A	N/A
	February	95.2	-0.1	N/A	92.1	-3.6	N/A
	March	98.2	3.2	N/A	93.8	1.8	N/A
	April	97.8	-0.5	N/A	93.2	-0.6	N/A
	May	101.7	4.0	N/A	97.7	4.8	N/A
	June	99.3	-2.4	N/A	97.7	0.0	N/A
	July	97.9	-1.4	N/A	100.0	2.3	N/A
	August	100.7	2.9	N/A	105.1	5.1	N/A
	September	104.3	3.5	N/A	105.1	0.0	N/A
	October	103.7	-0.5	N/A	105.1	0.0	N/A
	November	104.1	0.3	N/A	107.3	2.2	N/A
	December	101.9	-2.1	N/A	104.0	-3.2	N/A

2020	January	101.7	-0.2	-6.3	101.1	-2.7	5.9
	February	99.6	-2.0	-4.5	103.4	2.2	12.3
	March	100.0	0.4	-1.8	101.7	-1.6	8.4
	April	77.1	-22.9	26.8	75.1	-26.1	-19.4
	May	77.5	0.6	31.2	70.6	-6.0	-27.7
	June	84.7	9.3	17.2	76.8	8.8	-21.4
	July	91.3	7.8	7.2	88.1	14.7	-11.9
	August	95.5	4.6	5.5	91.0	3.2	-13.4
	September	97.6	2.2	6.8	94.9	4.3	-9.7
	October	97.8	0.2	6.1	97.7	3.0	-7.0
	November	94.0	-3.8	10.7	89.8	-8.1	-16.3
	December	96.1	2.2	6.0	99.4	10.7	-4.3

2021	January	89.2	-7.2	14.0	86.4	-13.1	-14.5
	February	80.4	-9.9	24.0	81.4	-5.9	-21.3
	March	82.2	2.3	21.6	81.9	0.7	-19.4
	April	88.2	7.2	-12.6	85.9	4.8	14.3
	May	95.6	8.4	-18.9	94.4	9.9	33.6
	June	100.1	4.7	-15.4	102.3	8.4	33.1
	July	102.7	2.6	-11.1	105.1	2.8	19.2
	August	105.5	2.8	-9.5	106.2	1.1	16.8
	September	107.7	2.1	-9.4	110.7	4.3	16.7
	October	109.1	1.2	-10.3	115.8	4.6	18.5
	November	109.7	0.6	-14.3	121.5	4.9	35.2
	December	109.7	0.0	-12.4	119.8	-1.4	20.5

2022	January	109.2	0.2	-18.8	115.3	-3.8	33.3
	February	109.2	-0.6	-26.4	121.5	5.4	49.3
	March	109.1	-0.1	-24.7	122.6	0.9	49.7
	April	109.3	0.2	-19.3	125.4	2.3	46.1
	May	110.5	1.1	-13.5	127.7	1.8	35.3
	June	110.1	-0.3	-9.1	127.7	0.0	24.9
	July	109.9	-0.2	-6.6	123.7	-3.1	17.7
	August	108.6	-1.2	-2.9	124.3	0.5	17.0
	September	109.4	0.7	-1.5	130.5	5.0	17.9
	October	107.7	-1.5	1.2	124.9	-4.3	7.8
	November	108.3	0.6	1.2	124.9	0.0	2.8
	December	105.4	-2.7	4.0	124.3	-0.5	3.8

2023	January	105.9	0.4	3.8	121.5	-2.3	5.4
	February	107.4	1.4	1.7	122.0	0.5	0.5
	March	106.7	-0.7	2.3	121.5	-0.5	-0.9
¹ Care should be taken in interpreting these results due to the different characteristics of cohorts, one set is panel data while the other is dynamic.

Open in Excel: Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions 2015-2021 Table 3.3 (XLS 14KB)

Female former prisoners working in 2020 were more impacted by COVID-19 than males

The highest decline in the annual employment index for females released from prison in 2018 was in June 2020. At this point, the employment index indicated a 23% decline in the number of female former prisoners who were working as employees. Male employment amongst former prisoners declined by 12% over the same period although this resulted in a larger overall impact as males account for the majority (92%) of the prison release population. See Figure 3.4 and Table 3.4.

	Male prisoners (2018)	Female prisoners (2018)
2019 January	93.7	74.2
2019 February	94.4	83.9
2019 March	100	93.5
2019 April	100.5	90.3
2019 May	102	96.8
2019 June	100	96.8
2019 July	97.5	100
2019 August	102	103.2
2019 September	105.1	109.7
2019 October	103	112.9
2019 November	103.8	112.9
2019 December	97.7	112.9
2020 January	98.2	109.7
2020 February	102.5	106.5
2020 March	103	100
2020 April	83	77.4
2020 May	83	77.4
2020 June	87.8	74.2
2020 July	92.4	83.9
2020 August	95.9	93.5
2020 September	96.4	106.5
2020 October	97.5	96.8
2020 November	97.2	109.7
2020 December	99.2	103.2
2021 January	93.7	93.5
2021 February	83.2	83.9
2021 March	84.5	87.1
2021 April	88.6	90.3
2021 May	97.2	93.5
2021 June	103	103.2
2021 July	105.8	109.7
2021 August	104.3	112.9
2021 September	104.8	119.4
2021 October	109.1	122.6
2021 November	108.6	122.6
2021 December	105.3	112.9
2022 January	108.4	112.9
2022 February	110.2	119.4
2022 March	112.4	122.6
2022 April	112.7	129
2022 May	114.7	132.3
2022 June	109.6	132.3
2022 July	110.2	129
2022 August	112.2	141.9
2022 September	114.2	141.9
2022 October	110.7	129
2022 November	111.4	132.3
2022 December	108.9	116.1
2023 January	108.4	119.4
2023 February	106.1	116.1
2023 March	105.8	109.7

Table 3.4 Employee prison index by sex

Table 3.4 Employee prison index by sex
		Males released from prison (2018)			Females released from prison (2018)
Year	Month	Employee index¹ (base year 2019=100)	Monthly % change	Annual % change	Employee index¹ (base year 2019=100)	Monthly % change	Annual % change
2019	January	93.7	N/A	N/A	74.2	N/A	N/A
	February	94.4	0.8	N/A	83.9	13.0	N/A
	March	100.0	5.9	N/A	93.5	11.5	N/A
	April	100.5	0.5	N/A	90.3	-3.4	N/A
	May	102.0	1.5	N/A	96.8	7.1	N/A
	June	100.0	-2.0	N/A	96.8	0.0	N/A
	July	97.5	-2.5	N/A	100.0	3.3	N/A
	August	102.0	4.7	N/A	103.2	3.2	N/A
	September	105.1	3.0	N/A	109.7	6.3	N/A
	October	103.0	-1.9	N/A	112.9	2.9	N/A
	November	103.8	0.7	N/A	112.9	0.0	N/A
	December	97.7	-5.9	N/A	112.9	0.0	N/A

2020	January	98.2	0.5	4.9	109.7	-2.9	47.8
	February	102.5	4.4	8.6	106.5	-2.9	26.9
	March	103.0	0.5	3.0	100.0	-6.1	6.9
	April	83.0	-19.5	-17.4	77.4	-22.6	-14.3
	May	83.0	0.0	-18.7	77.4	0.0	-20.0
	June	87.8	5.8	-12.2	74.2	-4.2	-23.3
	July	92.4	5.2	-5.2	83.9	13.0	-16.1
	August	95.9	3.8	-6.0	93.5	11.5	-9.4
	September	96.4	0.5	-8.2	106.5	13.8	-2.9
	October	97.5	1.1	-5.4	96.8	-9.1	-14.3
	November	97.2	-0.3	-6.4	109.7	13.3	-2.9
	December	99.2	2.1	1.6	103.2	-5.9	-8.6

2021	January	93.7	-5.6	-4.7	93.5	-9.4	-14.7
	February	83.2	-11.1	-18.8	83.9	-10.3	-21.2
	March	84.5	1.5	-18.0	87.1	3.8	-12.9
	April	88.6	4.8	6.7	90.3	3.7	16.7
	May	97.2	9.7	17.1	93.5	3.6	20.8
	June	103.0	6.0	17.3	103.2	10.3	39.1
	July	105.8	2.7	14.6	109.7	6.3	30.8
	August	104.3	-1.4	8.7	112.9	2.9	20.7
	September	104.8	0.5	8.7	119.4	5.7	12.1
	October	109.1	4.1	12.0	122.6	2.7	26.7
	November	108.6	-0.5	11.7	122.6	0.0	11.8
	December	105.3	-3.0	6.1	112.9	-7.9	9.4

2022	January	108.4	2.9	15.7	112.9	0.0	20.7
	February	110.2	1.6	32.3	119.4	5.7	42.3
	March	112.4	2.1	33.0	122.6	2.7	40.7
	April	112.7	0.2	27.2	129.0	5.3	42.9
	May	114.7	1.8	18.0	132.3	2.5	41.4
	June	109.6	-4.4	6.4	132.3	0.0	28.1
	July	110.2	0.5	4.1	129.0	-2.4	17.6
	August	112.2	1.8	7.5	141.9	10.0	25.7
	September	114.2	1.8	9.0	141.9	0.0	18.9
	October	110.7	-3.1	1.4	129.0	-9.1	5.3
	November	111.4	0.7	2.6	132.3	2.5	7.9
	December	108.9	-2.3	3.4	116.1	-12.2	2.9

2023	January	108.4	-0.5	0.0	119.4	2.8	5.7
	February	106.1	-2.1	-3.7	116.1	-2.7	-2.7
	March	105.8	-0.2	-5.9	109.7	-5.6	-10.5
¹ Care should be taken in interpreting these results due to the different characteristics of cohorts, one set is panel data while the other is dynamic.

Open in Excel: Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions 2015-2021 Table 3.4 (XLS 14KB)

Former prisoners or probationers tend to be employed more in the Construction, Admin support and Retail Trade sectors

The highest proportion of former prisoners (18%) or probationers (18%) were employed in the Construction sector in 2021, three years after their prison release or probation supervision. Administrative Support Services was the next most popular sector where former prisoners (17%) or probationers (16%) were employed. The greatest difference in employment at sectorial level between persons linked to justice sanctions and all employees was in Education where 8% of the population of all employees receive employment while just 3% of persons with a history of prison or probation are employed. See Figure 3.5 and Tables 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7.

	Probationers	Persons released from prison	All persons
B-E Industry	14	13	11
F Construction	18	18	5
G Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles	14	13	16
H Transportation & Storage	4	6	4
I Accommodation & Food Services	9	7	8
J Information & Communication	2	2	5
K-L Financial, Insurance & Real Estate	2	3	5
M Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities	4	3	7
N Administrative & Support Services	16	17	7
O Public Administration & Defence	3	1	5
P Education	3	3	8
Q Human Health & Social Work	7	10	14
R-S Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Other Service Activities	3	2	3

Table 3.5 Proportion of probationers by NACE Economic Sector and year, 2015-2021

Table 3.6 Proportion of persons released from prison in employment by NACE Economic Sector and year, 2015-2021

Table 3.7 Proportion of all persons in employment by NACE Economic Sector and year, 2015-2021

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Circumstances of People Linked to Justice Sanctions 2015-2021

Employment Levels

Employment Levels

Introduction

Employee index calculation

Probation employee index rose by 13% between January 2019 and January 2023

Prison employment index rose by 19% between January 2019 and January 2023

Female former probationers links to earnings increased more than males after 2022

Female former prisoners working in 2020 were more impacted by COVID-19 than males

Former prisoners or probationers tend to be employed more in the Construction, Admin support and Retail Trade sectors

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Table 3.5 Proportion of probationers¹ by NACE Economic Sector and year, 2015-2021								%
		Year
NACE Economic Sector		2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
B-E	Industry	15	15	14	15	14	14	14
F	Construction	10	15	17	17	19	19	18
G	Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles	16	16	15	15	15	16	14
H	Transportation & Storage	3	3	2	3	3	4	4
I	Accommodation & Food Services	10	10	10	10	9	9	9
J	Information & Communication	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
K-L	Financial, Insurance & Real Estate	3	2	2	2	2	2	2
M	Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities	3	3	3	3	3	3	4
N	Administrative & Support Services	13	13	15	16	14	13	16
O	Public Administration & Defence	3	2	2	2	2	3	3
P	Education	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Q	Human Health & Social Work	13	11	11	10	9	8	7
R-S	Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Other Service Activities	4	4	3	3	4	3	3
Other Activities		0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total		100	100	100	100	100	100	100
¹ Persons linked with probation orders in 2018.

Table 3.7 Proportion of all persons¹in employment by NACE Economic Sector and year, 2015-2021								%
		Year
NACE Economic Sector		2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
B-E	Industry	11	11	11	11	11	11	11
F	Construction	4	4	5	5	5	6	5
G	Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles & Motorcycles	17	17	17	16	16	16	16
H	Transportation & Storage	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
I	Accommodation & Food Services	9	10	10	10	10	8	8
J	Information & Communication	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
K-L	Financial, Insurance & Real Estate	6	6	6	6	5	5	5
M	Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities	5	5	5	6	6	6	7
N	Administrative & Support Services	7	7	7	7	7	7	7
O	Public Administration & Defence	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
P	Education	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
Q	Human Health & Social Work	14	14	14	14	13	14	14
R-S	Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Other Service Activities	4	4	4	4	4	3	3
Other Activities		0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total		100	100	100	100	100	100	100
¹ Please see background notes for further explanation of what is excluded from this category.