Exporting companies recorded a net jobs gain of 3,804 last year, the highest such increase seen since 2006, according to Enterprise Ireland.

In an end-of-year statement issued today, the agency said total direct employment in the exporting companies it supports stood at 172,473 at the end of 2012. This came as 13,642 new jobs were created by firms supported by Enterprise Ireland and 9,838 were lost.

Launching the statement,  Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, said 2012 was "a very important year for Ireland and for the Irish economy" which had witnessed "a very significant fightback".

The jobs created last year came mainly in software, internationally-traded services, food and machinery and equipment. Positions lost were mostly in construction-related companies.

Enterprise Ireland chief executive Frank Ryan said the companies assisted by the agency had proved "resilient and relentless in their pursuit of new market opportunities".

He said Enterprise Ireland was "now back talking to companies about expansion", something that hadn't occurred for several years.

A breakdown of the direct employment figures for Enterprise-Ireland client companies shows 146,908 jobs are full-time, while 25,565 are part-time positions. Mr Ryan said there had been a "levelling off" in the creation of part-time jobs, with more full-time staff now being taken on.

Enterprise Ireland says its client companies now support more than 300,000 jobs in the domestic economy.