Enterprise Ireland backed firms employ 9,000 locally

ALMOST 9,000 people are now employed by companies which have received backing from Enterprise Ireland in Limerick.

Officials at the agency, which exists to support manufacturing businesses among others, have revealed its end-of-year report.

It shows that a total of 8,924 people are employed through Enterprise Ireland supported companies locally.

Over the last 12 months, there have been 275 net job gains, which is equivalent to a 3% growth. Nationally, the agency has helped create 15,530 new positions.

Taking into account job losses last year, the new jobs translate to a net jobs gain of 5,011 across the State.

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Jerry Moloney, Enterprise Ireland’s regional director for the Mid-West said: “Irish export-focused companies are continuing to create quality employment across Ireland, despite a challenging business environment. Employment in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland is now at its highest ever level at over 225,000 people, with over two thirds of the new jobs outside the Dublin region.”

He said the increase in jobs in Limerick is a “testament to the hard work of our client companies who are hungry to achieve greater scale and expand their global footprint.”

Mr Moloney added: “At Enterprise Ireland we are determined to support both the start-up sector and established companies to increase sales and exports in global markets which results in increased employment.”