The number of people employed in client companies of Government agencies rose to over 535,000 last year despite a slight fall-off in the number employed by foreign-owned multinationals. The latest Annual Employment Survey published by the Department of Public Enterprise indicated that jobs in client companies of Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta rose to their highest ever level of 535,604 in 2023.
The report indicated that employment in foreign direct investment (FDI) firms, however, decreased by 0.2 per cent since 2022, with 601 less total jobs. The fall-off in multinational employment in 2023 coincided with a significant weakening in global demand, which has dented Irish exports