Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland 2018

Figure 8.2 shows the share of total FDI associated employment across the economy by county. Dublin has three times more FDI associated employment than any other county. Dublin and Cork combined account for approximately 50% of all employment from Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland. It is important to highlight again that these figures refer to how many employees are residing in these counties. Dublin and Cork may have additional FDI employees residing in neighbouring counties and commuting into the cities.

Figure 8.3 shows FDI associated employment as a percentage of the overall employment in a county (which is also displayed in the map, Figure 8.1, above). This is an indicator of how dependant each county’s employment is on foreign investment. On average, 17% of a county’s total employment stems from FDI firms.

Figure 8.4 shows the average wages by county for FDI firms and Irish firms. Because the data methods rely on employee addresses, the regions neighbouring counties with large cities are likely to receive spill over as employees working in those cities may take up residence in a nearby county. In Wicklow’s case in Figure 8.4 for example, the very high average FDI wage is driven by employment which is mostly located in Dublin.

Figure 8.5 shows the difference between FDI associated employment average wages and the average paid by Irish firms for each county.

Figure 8.6 shows the percentage of the total wages per county that are paid by FDI firms. In Dublin, 29% of the total wages come from FDI firms.