The Development Challenge Northern Ireland and the bordering Irish counties have seen over 25 years of armed struggle. Long-standing lack of equal opportunity is key to the conflict. All major social and economic indicators continue to show that Catholics in Northern Ireland, while making some gains, continue to be more disadvantaged than Protestants. Northern Ireland has the highest unemployment rate in the United Kingdom. Long-term unemployment remains high.
Job growth is the chief determinant of civic stability.
There have been improvements in the rate of re-employment for Catholics. However Catholic males remain unemployed disproportionately compared with Protestant males. Inability to travel freely throughout the security zones compounds the difficulties for both groups in seeking employment. Nationalists are reluctant to seek employment in the security zones. Despite the fact that the Republic of Ireland's economy is among the fastest growing in Europe, the economy of Northern Ireland and its border counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth is devastated.