Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) supported a total of 37,863 jobs at small Irish firms last year, a net increase of almost 3,500 or 10 per cent on 2021.
Supported by Enterprise Ireland and working within local authorities across the State, LEOs provide a range of supports to businesses and entrepreneurs, including financial, mentoring, training and sector-specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development. They also run initiatives to foster entrepreneurship.
The agency’s annual report for 2022 shows that LEOs now financially support 7,221 client companies in their portfolio and a total of 37,863 jobs.
The figures also revealed that 84 per cent of the new jobs created were outside the Dublin region and there was employment growth in each of the 31 LEOs.
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“Small businesses know that many challenges still lie ahead in 2023 but what we have seen in recent years is the adaptability and resilience of our SMEs,” said Padraic McElwee, chairman of the LEO network. “We will continue to support that going forward and, working closely with our partners and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, we will ensure we are providing the best guidance and supports to our new and growing businesses.”
Speaking to reporters at the launch of the report, which took place in the headquarters of Dublin-based data company Hatched Analytics, Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney said he was “very happy” with the latest numbers, particularly in the context of a challenging economic climate.
“When you think about the headwinds of last year, the pressures on business and households last year in terms of cost-of-living increases, the fact that we’ve seen so many jobs created and so many businesses growing and expanding despite that, I think is a reminder that this is a formula that works,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Coveney, who moved to his new role from the Department of Foreign Affairs in December’s Cabinet reshuffle, was asked whether the slowdown in the technology sector globally can be expected to have an impact on the rate of job creation at the local level.
“It remains to be seen,” he said. “So far, there hasn’t been a significant impact in terms of job numbers in Ireland, and if you look at the net growth across 2022 of foreign direct investment on the tech side, it was a very strong growth in terms of numbers.”
He said: “I think the general story in terms of tech jobs in Ireland is a very strong and positive one. And while we will see some corrections, I don’t think you’re going to see dramatic job losses in terms of numbers or anything like that.”
