Employment Data
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-13
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

As the Deputy is aware, the programme for Government sets out a strong enterprise and fiscal framework that prioritises economic and employment growth and competitiveness, with a target to support the creation of 300,000 extra jobs by 2030. I am pleased to report that, one year on, the Irish labour market continues to record sustained employment growth, rising labour force participation and record job numbers last year, indicative of a resilient performance. In total, over 2.8 million people are now employed in Ireland with employment up 61,500 on average in the first nine months of last year. While this is a record level of employment, it is the case that the pace of job creation slowed as the year progressed. The overall robust employment performance reflects both the inherent dynamism within the economy and the success of Government policies aimed at supporting job creation, fostering innovation and providing opportunities for all sectors. Ireland’s labour market performance also compares very favourably with our European counterparts. In respect of the regions, this is something we have watched very closely. It is important to stress that the labour market here is very open and dynamic, with strong increases in labour supply. Furthermore, the prevalence of remote working and commuting patterns complicate comparisons across regions.
Nonetheless, over the past year we have seen some increases in regional unemployment rates, notably in the mid-west and Border areas, where the unemployment rates averaged 5.2% and 4.8%, respectively, over the first three quarters of 2025. Furthermore, the increases over the year in these areas were above the national average. At the same time, some areas saw a decline in unemployment, with the south-west region’s unemployment rate averaging 3.8%, well ahead of the national average, and the employment rate in the west averaging 5% over the first three quarters of 2025. Balanced regional development is a Government priority under my Department.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-13/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:30+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-13