"Almost thirty years after the first legislation banning religious discrimination, and fifteen years after the specific duties of monitoring and review were placed on employers, this new and important study edited by Bob Osborne and Ian Shuttleworth evaluates the effectiveness of a generation of fair employment legislation." "This provocative collection of essays by a distinguished panel of researchers, academics and policy-makers discusses the positive changes that have resulted from fair employment legislation and the continuing challenges that face decision-makers. In their assessment, the authors consider changes in the labour market; shifts in Catholic and Protestant employment patterns; the crucial role of educational qualifications in accessing jobs; the effect of legal and affirmative action interventions; and public attitudes towards fair employment and equality." "As government in Northern Ireland moves towards the creation of a single law to cover all areas of discrimination and equal opportunity, this book offers clear evidence that strong policy and law can help create change." "This assessment of fair employment is essential reading for anyone interested in creating a fairer and more equal society."--BOOK JACKET.