More and more Traveller women are seeking to join the mainstream labour force often in a part-time capacity.

According to Census 2016, approximately 30% of Traveller women aged over 15 years were looking after the home. The majority of Traveller women employed were working in caring personal service occupations, administration, health professionals, sales and other service occupations.

The majority of Traveller men who are employed work in the construction industry, elementary trades, service occupations, sales and other stated occupations.

Unemployment and reduced social circumstances combine to produce feelings of negativity, depression and low self-worth. Many young Travellers say they see little point in staying on at school because there is little or no chance of gaining employment due to discrimination in the workplace. Many Travellers are forced to hide their identity to get a job or to stay in a job. This has negative knock on effects that can affect well-being and mental health.

Pavee Point worked to develop a submission to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on its Pathways to Work Strategy recommending Travellers be a named group and with targeted and mainstream actions.

As Travellers look more and more to join the mainstream labour force discrimination in the workplace is a significant barrier to Traveller employment. A study by Micheál MacGreil Maynooth University 2010 showed 41% of people were not willing to employ a Traveller.

An IHREC/ESRI report in 2017 ‘Who experiences discrimination in Ireland?’ shows Irish Travellers are 10 times more likely than White Irish to experience discrimination when seeking work.

This was further confirmed in a 2022 survey published by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.  This study stated that 67% surveyed said Traveller identity is a disadvantage in hiring.

The impact of discrimination in the workplace is that many Travellers hide their identity while seeking work and while in work situations.  This is a devaluing and stressful experience and contributes to negative mental health.

Travellers are a named group in the Employment Equality Acts and a number of cases have been won by Travellers who have been unfairly dismissed due to their Traveller identity.