Changing face of economy reflected in town

THE snapshot of Louth society, revealed recently by the Central Statistics Office, included a number of interesting figures, not least of which was the fact that the three top occupational groups in the county are to be found in sales/retail, administration and nursing.

The interesting, indeed surprising aspect of the figures, is that manufacturing is not included in the top three occupations.

In the past, perhaps 30 years ago or even 20 years ago, the majority of jobs in Louth were found in factories and breweries.

Even the demise of some of the more traditional industries such as shoe manufacturing and tobacco were replaced by light electronic, car and computer components.

Now, according to the survey, the majority of jobs in the county are in sales and administration as companies servicing the online sales market provide the most valuable employment.

In that respect Louth is not a lot different than most towns in the country, or indeed other towns and cities in Europe, as manufacturing - making the bits and pieces needed in daily living - has been farmed out to low wage economies in China and the Far East.

There was a time when you could buy shoes made in Dundalk, smoke cigarettes made

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU COULD BUY SHOES MADE IN DUNDALK, SMOKE CIGARETTES MADE IN DUNDALK

in Dundalk, boil the water for your tea from a kettle made in Dundalk, drink a beer brewed in Dundalk, drive a car assembled in Dundalk, holiday in a caravan manufactured in Dundalk even ride a train in which the steam engine and carriages were made in Dundalk.

Now can anyone name an item made in Dundalk ?