Full-time unemployment and job creation both hit new highs last year, according to Forfas.
Full-time employment in manufacturing and internationally traded and financial services rose by nearly 5 per cent while the number of new jobs in the same sectors increased by 8 per cent, the State industry, science and technology agency reported.
However, job losses increased by 22 per cent, with foreign-owned firms and those in the clothing, footwear, textiles, metals and engineering sectors, accounting for the highest levels along with rationalisation in the food sector.
Full-time employment in manufacturing and internationally traded and financial services rose by almost 13,000 to 290,600, although 34,600 new jobs were created in the same sectors. The downside was the loss of 21,600 jobs in foreign-owned firms and traditional and labour intensive industries. Some 75 per cent of the losses were due to company contractions, as opposed to closures, which marks an acceleration of the trend of previous years.
Last year was the eighth consecutive year in which increases in job creation were recorded and Mr John Travers, chief executive of Forfas, says the record level of job growth underlines the continuing strength and expansion of the Irish economy.
But he cautioned that, while Ireland had the potential to continue its upward trend for some years ahead, there could be no room for complacency. Significant challenges remained in areas such as infrastructure, transport, skills and labour supply and there was a need for serious development of the scientific research and innovation capability of the State.
Internationally-traded and financial services companies accounted for 73 per cent of the total increase in full employment, with manufacturing accounting for the remainder. Foreign-owned companies accounted for 67 per cent of net employment growth or 8,700 jobs, while Irish-owned firms contributed 4,300 jobs.
Part-time, temporary and short-term contract employment in Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta companies rose by 1,350 to more than 33,200.
On a regional breakdown, all regions showed a net increase in jobs, with the exception of Border and Midland regions.
Forfas says OECD figures demonstrate Ireland is unusual in displaying significantly increased manufacturing employment in the last 10 years. While Ireland showed growth of 20.2 per cent, Britain was down 16.7 per cent, Germany was down 30.3 per cent, Japan was down 7.1 per cent and the US by 5.3 per cent.
