Record job creation by Enterprise Ireland firms in 2021

The number of staff employed by Enterprise Ireland (EI) supported companies rose by 11,911 last year, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is the highest jobs gain ever recorded by clients of the State agency in a single year.

207,894 people now work for companies that are assisted by EI, whose remit is the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets.

However, this is down on the 220,613 recorded last year, because as part of the formulation of its new three year strategy, EI updated the group of companies it included in its annual employment survey and found some could no longer be classed as clients, reducing the overall number.

In total, 20,342 new jobs were created by EI backed businesses in 2021, but job losses at other firms it supports reduced that net figure down to close to just under 12,000.

Just over two thirds of the new positions were created outside of the capital, with a 9% increase in the North West and 7% growth in the South East.

The gains were made across all the manufacturing and internationally traded service sectors that Enterprise Ireland targets, with particular growth in life sciences where was a 14% boost in employment.

EI backed digital technology firms grew their staffing by 10%, and business services employment rose 12%.

Enterprise Ireland also provided €61.6m in funding to 341 companies that were impacted by Covid-19 last year.

1,048 approved projects also received a total of €14.6m under the Ready for Customs Grant aimed at preparing firms for the impact of Brexit.

"Enterprise Ireland has been working with businesses throughout the country to ensure they can quickly recover from the impact of Covid-19 and continue to adapt to the new trading relationship with the UK," said EI Chief Executive Leo Clancy.

"It is very important and welcome to see job growth in every key economic sector and every region."

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar has said news that the number of staff employed by Enterprise Ireland supported companies rose by 11,911 last year is "really positive" and shows how important it is to continue to support enterprise and free trade.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Varadkar said exporting companies are producing a lot of the revenues that are being used to help companies and workers that are in difficulty as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the financial supports put in place to help businesses that are struggling due to Covid measures are "very much linked" to restrictions.

"So as long as the restrictions are in place restricting the operation of those businesses, then Government needs to continue to stand behind those businesses and their workers with financial supports."

Mr Varadkar said they will "avoid a cliff edge" and that even when restrictions are removed there has to be a recovery phase.

Enterprise Ireland also launches a new three year strategy today which aims to create 45,000 new jobs over the next three years.

It also plans to increase exports by EI clients to €30bn through the continued growth of export focused Irish firms across all regions.

The plan also aims to make Ireland a "world-leading" location to start and scale a business and make Irish firms global leaders in sustainability and climate action.

"Our core focus for the coming years will be on helping our clients realise further growth resulting from the significant opportunities that a recovering global economy presents for the benefit of every community in Ireland," said Mr Clancy.

Reporting: RTE News