Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which job retention and creation effort continues to be made in the manufacturing sector throughout Ireland and in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19102/22]
View answerMy Department compiles data on the enterprise development agencies and their client companies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Udaras na Gaeltachta). During the two year period spanning the pandemic from 2019 to 2021 total employment in the Manufacturing sector in enterprise agency client companies has increased by 5.1%, or 11,534 jobs, to reach 238,038 jobs in 2021. In County Kildare, employment in the Manufacturing sector has increased by 4.4%, or 610 jobs, during the same two year period. These results show the resilience of the Manufacturing sector in Ireland despite the immense challenges posed by the pandemic.
Total Employment in Manufacturing sector for agency client companies, 2012-2021
Source: DETE Annual Employment Survey, 2021
These employment numbers include those that were on the TWSS and EWSS as employed and exclude those who were on the PUP.
The enterprise agency client companies are a subset of the total economy focused on the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. From the CSO Labour Force Survey, I understand that total employment in all Industry activities in Ireland was 314,100 in Q4 2021, up 9.7% or 27,800 jobs since Q4 2019.
