Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho! (it’s off to work we go…)

Jackie Maguire, CEO, Meath County Council

Happy

We’ve had good news on the double regarding employment this week. Official @CSOIreland figures show that the average unemployment rate for 2016 was 8.0%. That’s down from 9.5% in 2015 and almost half what it was at the height of the economic downturn. Analysts are broadly agreed that businesses will create a further 35,000 jobs in 2017 and that will bring the jobless rate in Ireland to 7.4%, and that’s after factoring in ‘Brexit’ type risks.

Not Grumpy

Yesterday we had official figures from the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) about the number of jobs that FDI companies brought to Ireland last year. Foreign companies brought a net new 11,842 jobs here, the highest number of new jobs created since 2000. There are now 200,000 people working directly for IDA backed (foreign based) companies. That’s 10% of the workforce – a  substantial and growing pillar of the economy.

Others may be Dopey and Sneezy

Assuming that our economy remains on an even keel we can expect that there will be some vying for skilled labour in the next couple of years. That’s where our #MakeItMeath campaign really kicks in. Industrial land and offices are already fetching a premium in our neighbouring county, Dublin. What we’re offering at @MeathCoCo is to help your business find the perfect value business location along with the skilled and educated workforce so that you’ll set up your business in Meath.

Bashful

We have thousands of skilled employees who commute from Meath to work in Dublin every day. They would love to stay in Meath, avoiding the hour-long commute to central Dublin. We’ve done the surveys that show that Meath residents really value staying Meath. That’s good news for employers like @Facebook who set up in Meath as they’re finding it easier to find excellent employees. And dare we say it? We’re very, very friendly.

Doc(ks)

With lower living costs, lower commuting costs along with not wasting time in traffic, if you’re an employer you’ll find your costs are  lower in Meath. However, you get all the benefits of being close to all access routes; air, sea and road. What we like to say is that Meath is like Dublin but better.

Never Sleepy

Despite various international and some home-grown economic challenges ahead our colleagues at @IDAIreland remains confident that they’re about to attract some more major business names to Ireland. As Europe’s most business-friendly region, Meath wants you and your business right here. We want you to contact our Economic Development Team today. That way we’ll make sure you and your enterprise will have a happy new year in 2017