Ireland’s UN SDGs - Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth 2021
The 17 UN SDGs are a set of global development targets adopted by the United Nations (UN) member countries in September 2015 to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The UN SDGs are driving the global development agenda towards Agenda 2030.
The Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020 is in direct response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides a whole-of-government approach to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
This Publication for 'Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth' has 16 SDG indicators which are divided into four main chapters: Economic Growth, Decent Work, Employment Rights and Policies and Infrastructure.
SDG 8.1.1 Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita is published by the CSO, National Accounts Division.
SDG 8.2.1 Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person is published by the CSO, National Accounts Division.
SDG 8.3.1 Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex is published by the CSO, Labour Force Survey.
SDG 8.4.1 Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP is published by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
SDG 8.4.2 Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP is published by the CSO, Environment Section in the Material Flow Accounts release.
SDG 8.5.1 Average hourly earnings of employees, by sex, age, occupation and persons with disabilities is published by the CSO, Earnings and Labour Costs and Eurostat.
SDG 8.5.2 Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities is published by the CSO, Labour Force Survey, Monthly Unemployment and the Census of Population 2016.
SDG 8.6.1 Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training is available from information published by the CSO, Census of Population 2016 and unemployment data published by the Labour Force Survey and the Monthly Unemployment release.
SDG 8.7.1 Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age is covered under legislation by the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996.
SDG 8.8.1 Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status is published by the Health and Safety Authority.
SDG 8.8.2 Level of national compliance of labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status - The ILO International Unit within the Department ensures that Ireland’s annual reporting obligations to the ILO are fulfilled.
SDG 8.9.1 Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate is published by the CSO, Tourism and Travel Annual Series.
SDG 8.10.1 (a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults is published from a number of sources including Central Bank.
SDG 8.10.2 Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider is published by the Central Bank of Ireland.
SDG 8.a.1 Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements is published by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
SDG 8.b.1 Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy is published by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Social Protection.
For reference the population per county is based on the Census of Population 2016 data as follows:
| Table 8.1 - Population per County, Census 2016 | ||
| Number | % | |
| Carlow | 56,932 | 1.2 |
| Dublin | 1,347,359 | 28.3 |
| Kildare | 222,504 | 4.7 |
| Kilkenny | 99,232 | 2.1 |
| Laois | 84,697 | 1.8 |
| Longford | 40,873 | 0.9 |
| Louth | 128,884 | 2.7 |
| Meath | 195,044 | 4.1 |
| Offaly | 77,961 | 1.6 |
| Westmeath | 88,770 | 1.9 |
| Wexford | 149,722 | 3.1 |
| Wicklow | 142,425 | 3.0 |
| Clare | 118,817 | 2.5 |
| Cork | 542,868 | 11.4 |
| Kerry | 147,707 | 3.1 |
| Limerick City and County | 194,899 | 4.1 |
| Tipperary | 159,553 | 3.4 |
| Waterford City and County | 116,176 | 2.4 |
| Galway | 258,058 | 5.4 |
| Leitrim | 32,044 | 0.7 |
| Mayo | 130,507 | 2.7 |
| Roscommon | 64,544 | 1.4 |
| Sligo | 65,535 | 1.4 |
| Cavan | 76,176 | 1.6 |
| Donegal | 159,192 | 3.3 |
| Monaghan | 61,386 | 1.3 |
| State | 4,761,865 | 100.0 |
| Source: CSO, Census of Population 2016 | ||
Border – Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
Midland – Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath
West – Galway, Mayo, Roscommon
Dublin – Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin
Mid-East – Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow
Mid-West – Clare, Limerick, Tipperary
South East – Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford
South West – Cork, Kerry
Northern & Western - Border and West regions
Southern - Mid-West, South East and South West regions
Eastern & Midland - Dublin, Mid-East and Midland regions
All indicators data are classified by the IAEG-SDGs into three tiers based on their level of methodological development and the availability of data at the global level.
Tier Classification Criteria/Definitions:
Tier 1: Indicator is conceptually clear, has an internationally established methodology and standards are available, and data are regularly produced by countries for at least 50 per cent of countries and of the population in every region where the indicator is relevant.
Tier 2: Indicator is conceptually clear, has an internationally established methodology and standards are available, but data are not regularly produced by countries.
Tier 3: No internationally established methodology or standards are yet available for the indicator, but methodology/standards are being (or will be) developed or tested.
Go to next chapter: Annex: SDG Policy Map
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