Ireland has by far the fastest-growing population in Europe, according to new official statistics which also show a record expansion of the domestic job market and a surge in immigration. Joe Humphreys reports
The latest Central Statistics Office figures on population, migration and labour force trends paint a rosy economic picture and show the labour force rising above two million for the first time.
The number of people employed in the State hit 2,014,800 in the second quarter of 2005. This represented an annual rise of 4.9 per cent - the highest year-on-year increase on record. The growth was led by the construction, financial services and health sectors but the numbers employed in manufacturing continued to decline.
The population rose to 4.13 million in April 2005, according to the CSO. The excess of births over deaths has doubled in the past 10 years. The natural increase in the population for the year ending April 2005 was 33,500. This compared to 16,600 in the 12 months to April 1994.
The figures show an increase in population across all age categories, including a significant rise in the elderly population. In April 2005, there were 111,300 people aged 80 years and over - a 17 per cent increase over April 2000.
The proportion of foreign nationals living in the State has also risen. It is expected next year's census will show that close to one in 10 people living in the State are foreign nationals. The growth in population of 2.2 per cent in the year to April 2005 is unrivalled in Europe. Cyprus has the next highest population growth rate in the EU, at 1.5 per cent.
CSO senior statistician Aidan Punch said the figures showed "we are facing a changing society". In particular, he said, "we are looking at a total change in the composition of our immigrant flows", with a fall-off in the number of Irish families returning from overseas, and a "surge" in immigration from the EU accession states.
Some 26,400 people migrated to Ireland from the accession states in first 12 months of EU membership. Revenue statistics indicate that as many as three times that number could have come to Ireland since accession, with a high proportion of people from such EU states returning home after summer jobs.
Construction continues to be the main source of employment, giving work to almost 20 per cent of the labour force. Employment in the sector rose by 9,600 in the second quarter of 2005.
There was some bad news on the jobs front yesterday with the announcement that American food ingredients company ADM is to close its plant at Ringaskiddy in Co Cork with the loss of 150 jobs.
Separately, unions at the aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin airport owned by the Swiss firm SR Technics were told that 200 job losses would be announced today at the former Team Aer Lingus plant.