There is a dramatic difference between Travellers & non-Travellers regarding employment, “with figures of only 11 per cent for Travellers compared to 66 per cent for non-Travellers” [1]. And only 4% of Travellers are employed in managerial, technical or professional positions, compared to 35% of non-Travellers.

“The unemployment rate was 82 per cent for Travellers aged 25–64 and 17 per cent for non-Travellers… [while] the main driver of the low employment rate of Travellers is the high rate of unemployment among those seeking work”. [1]

And even after taking their lack of education into account, “the odds of not being at work are over eight times higher for Travellers than non-Travellers. This means that apart from their educational disadvantage, Travellers face further barriers in the labour market when it comes to employment”. [1]

[1] D. Watson, O.Kenny & F. McGinnity. 2017 A Social Portrait of Travellers in Ireland, The Economic and Social Research Institute