Job creation in Cork up 6% in 2017 by Enterprise Ireland backed companies

ENTERPRISE Ireland, the Government agency responsible for developing Irish business globally, has reported strong job creation by its client companies in Cork, with a 6% increase in the number of jobs created. 25,975 people are now employed by companies supported by the agency in Cork.

A total of 19,332 new jobs were created by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2017. 209,388 people are now employed in companies supported by the agency, the highest ever.

This represents a net increase of 10,309 jobs for 2017, taking account of job losses. The net increase in jobs is the highest on record with Enterprise Ireland. The job creation figures are up on 2016, showing strong consistent year on year growth, despite the uncertainty that Irish businesses faced in 2017 in the context of Brexit.

Job creation was evenly spread across the country, with every county seeing job increases. Two thirds (64%) of the new jobs created were outside of Dublin. The West, Mid-West and North West saw the largest level of increases at 7% in 2017.

Enterprise Ireland attributes this strong performance by Irish businesses to the continuing growth of an entrepreneurial climate for start-ups, allied to strong jobs growth in the Construction (8% increase), Engineering (8% increase), Lifesciences (8% increase), Digital Technology (6% increase), Electronics (6% increase), Food (4% increase) and ICT sectors (5% increase).