Employees by occupation in Ireland
Ireland: Employees by occupation was 2,428 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2,428 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
24th
of 47 countries
All-time high
2,428 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
800.8 Thousand persons
in 1985
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Employees by occupation in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, employees by occupation in Ireland stood at 2,428 Thousand persons. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 41.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employees by occupation in Ireland peaked at 2,428 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 800.8 Thousand persons, in 1985.
Ireland ranks 24th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Employees by occupation in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 832.8 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 818.7 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 800.8 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 817.6 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 814.4 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 814.1 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 822.4 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 848.6 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 866.2 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 872.5 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 884.2 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 933 Thousand persons | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 982.2 Thousand persons | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 1,034 Thousand persons | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 1,087 Thousand persons | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 1,190 Thousand persons | +9.4% |
| 1999 | 1,282 Thousand persons | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 1,351 Thousand persons | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 1,405 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 1,445 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 1,475 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 1,506 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 1,618 Thousand persons | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 1,711 Thousand persons | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 1,859 Thousand persons | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 1,830 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 1,662 Thousand persons | -9.2% |
| 2010 | 1,593 Thousand persons | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 1,570 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 1,563 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 1,607 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 1,653 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 1,716 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 1,784 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 1,853 Thousand persons | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 1,916 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 1,985 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 1,957 Thousand persons | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 2,083 Thousand persons | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 2,228 Thousand persons | +7.0% |
| 2023 | 2,312 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 2,381 Thousand persons | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 2,428 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 2,428 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,801 Thousand persons, 87% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 2,428 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,127 Thousand persons, 78% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 817.26 Thousand persons | 800.8 Thousand persons | 832.8 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 997.85 Thousand persons | 848.6 Thousand persons | 1,282 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,586 Thousand persons | 1,351 Thousand persons | 1,859 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,724 Thousand persons | 1,563 Thousand persons | 1,985 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,232 Thousand persons | 1,957 Thousand persons | 2,428 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employees by occupation in Ireland?
- Employees by occupation in Ireland was 2,428 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employees by occupation recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 2,428 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest employees by occupation recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 800.8 Thousand persons in 1985.
- How does Ireland rank for employees by occupation?
- Ireland ranks 24th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employees by occupation rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employees by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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