Manufacturing in the lead as jobs growth continues

More than 28,500 full-time jobs were created in manufacturing, internationally traded and international financial services last year, according to a survey by Forfas.

The survey says that job losses of more than 15,300 were the lowest in 10 years. This is the third year in a row that job creation has increased and the rate of job losses has declined.

The number of permanent full-time jobs created by Irish owned companies in 1996 (14,075) was the highest recorded to date, while the number of jobs lost (8,267) was the lowest.

Manufacturing accounted for 64 per cent of the net permanent full-time jobs created in 1996, and internationally traded and international financial services accounted for 36 per cent of the increase.

According to the survey, three "distinct trends have emerged" in the area of employment opportunities:

. unlike many developed economies, including Britain, the Republic has seen strong growth (13.8 per cent) in manufacturing employment between 1987 and 1996;

. the survey notes "the increased significance of internationally traded services and international financial services in job creation". In 1987 these sectors accounted for 7,738 new jobs, but this figure has grown by 239 per cent since then;

. there has been noticeable growth in temporary, part-time and short-term contract employment, which rose by more than 150 per cent between 1987 and 1995, from 9,600 to 24,000.

However, in 1996 there was a fall of 1,150 in this category. This form of employment has increased from 4.6 per cent of total employment in 1987 to 8.7 per cent in 1996. The survey shows foreign owned companies accounted for over 55.8 per cent of the growth, while Irish companies with more than 5,800 jobs, made up 44.2 per cent.

A regional analysis of the figures shows the largest increases in employment growth between 1987 and 1996 were in Co. Donegal (32.9 per cent), the west (30.4 per cent), the east (29.5 per cent) and the north-west (24.3 per cent).

The lowest increases were recorded in the south-east (10 per cent) and the north-east (13.7 per cent).

On a sectoral basis, the largest increases between 1987 and 1996 are recorded among non-manufacturing companies (245 per cent) and the metals and engineering sector (48.1 per cent).

Mr Colm Regan, executive director of Forfas, said the survey showed an economy growing rapidly and producing significant increases in employment.

He added that underlying trends suggested excellent prospects for further growth.

He said the 31 per cent rise in employment growth in the internationally traded and financial services sector was "directly attributable to the continued development of the IFSC in Dublin".