Record High of Irish Women in Workforce

Female participation in Ireland’s workforce has reached a record high of 61.6%, reflecting the growing flexibility offered by hybrid working models, according to new data. The latest Labour Force Survey from the Central Statistics Office shows that the overall employment rate has risen to 75.3%, the highest level recorded since 1998.

The participation rate for individuals aged 15 and over has increased to 66.6%, a rise of 0.8 percentage points from the previous year. The unemployment rate for the third quarter stood at 4.5%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points.

For the first time since the 2008 financial crash, more than half of young people aged 15 to 24 are employed, with the employment rate for this group now at 50.9%. This is a significant improvement from 37% in the same period of 2020, during the height of the pandemic.

Currently, about 2.79 million people are employed in Ireland, and with low unemployment levels, it is not expected to be a major issue in the upcoming general election.

Employment growth has been seen across most sectors, with public administration seeing the largest year-on-year increase at 12%. This growth is attributed to rising government spending on public services and the expansion of various agencies and regulators. The professional, scientific, and technical sector also grew by 12%, while the accommodation and food sector saw a 9% increase, despite several well-known restaurant closures.

Dermot O’Leary, Chief Economist at Goodbody, highlighted that inward migration and increased workforce participation are the primary drivers of Ireland’s employment growth. Over the past year, both employment and the labour force grew by around 100,000 people. Employment of Irish nationals rose by 2.3%, while employment of non-Irish nationals grew by 9.6%, making up 20.2% of total employment.

O’Leary noted that most migrants are filling higher-skilled roles, with a notable contribution from arrivals from Ukraine. He also emphasized that higher participation, especially among women, contributed to about 40% of the overall increase in the labour force. The participation rate reached its highest level since 2007, and the increase in female participation is seen as a result of greater flexibility in the post-Covid work environment.