Record employment levels in state agency supported firms
New figures show that jobs in client companies of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta, are now at their highest ever level, at over 546,763 jobs, which is a 1.3% increase on 2023 figures.
The Annual Employment Survey 2024 shows there was a fall in job gains last year.
Gross job gains for 2024 were 29,722, which is down on the 2023 figure.
There were 22,922 job losses last year, down from 33,051 in 2023.
The survey shows that employment in FDI (foreign direct investment) firms increased by 0.3% since 2023, with 1,064 additional total jobs.
In Irish-owned firms, employment increased by 2.7%, an increase of 5,966 total jobs since 2023.
Among Irish owned firms the energy, water, waste and construction sector gained the most jobs followed by business services.
Among foreign owned firms, chemicals and business services were the sectors that gained the most jobs.
A separate study, the Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact for 2023, shows that total sales amounted to €509.7 billion in 2023 which represents an increase of 6.8% in current prices on the previous year’s figure of €477.2 billion.
Total exports in 2023 amounted to €459.4 billion, an increase of 7% on the previous year of €429.4 billion, with 92.4% of these exports being from foreign-owned enterprises.
“These results demonstrate the strength and resilience of our jobs market and industry in Ireland, in spite of the challenges posed by global economic and political headwinds,” said Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
“In 2024, employment growth in Irish owned firms was strong across the board, including in the construction, business services and food & drink sectors,” Mr Burke.
“Total permanent, full-time jobs among Irish-owned companies has increased by another 2.3% this year, with Irish-owned companies growing in employment in every year over the past decade,” Mr Burke said.
Article Source – Record employment levels in state agency supported firms – RTE
