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Employment at its Highest Level Since 2008

  • Employment volumes have risen by 65,100 (3.3%) in the year to the fourth quarter of 2016, the 17th successive quarter of annual employment growth.
  • The level of employment is now at its highest since 2008. All of the employment growth in the final quarter of last year was due to increases in full-time employment – another positive development.
  • Employment growth remains broadly based, with increases recorded in all 14 sectors measured by the CSO.

Commenting on the figures, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said:

I warmly welcome the very strong employment growth that was recorded in the final quarter of last year.  Overall employment increases of 65,000 (3.3 per cent) are a clear sign that our economy is performing very well and generating jobs-rich growth. I particularly welcome the increase in full-time employment with 72,000 full-time jobs created year-on-year to the last quarter of 2016.  It is very encouraging that all sectors of the economy are generating employment.  I also note that the level of employment is now over 200,000 higher than when the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012.