Ireland Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Ireland's industry employment was 18.21% in 2025, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Ireland's industry employment stood at 18.21% in 2025, a decline of +0.24% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 17.67% by 2026. Ireland ranked 77th globally.
Ireland’s share of employment in industry fell from 27.48 percent in 1991 to a low of 16.98 percent in 2012, marking the all‑time trough during the post‑global‑financial‑crisis recession, before recovering modestly to 18.21 percent in 2025, a level that places the country 77th in the world. The sector’s peak of 28.93 percent occurred in 2001, reflecting the pre‑crisis boom when manufacturing and construction were major drivers of growth. Over the 35‑year span, industry employment has contracted by roughly one‑third, a pattern mirrored in other small, open economies such as Iceland (18.24 percent) and Montenegro (18.23 percent) in 2025. The gradual rise since the 2012 trough suggests a slow re‑industrialisation, but sustaining a higher share will likely depend on policy incentives for advanced manufacturing, green technologies and investment in skilled labour to reverse the long‑term decline.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 17.12% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 17.39% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 17.67% | - | - |
| 2025 | 18.21% | −0.24% | #77 |
| 2024 | 18.45% | +1.17% | #83 |
| 2023 | 17.28% | −2.08% | #70 |
| 2022 | 19.36% | +0.24% | #97 |
| 2021 | 19.12% | +0.30% | #92 |
| 2020 | 18.82% | +0.05% | #89 |
| 2019 | 18.77% | −0.05% | #88 |
| 2018 | 18.82% | −0.02% | #85 |
| 2017 | 18.84% | +0.29% | #87 |
| 2016 | 18.55% | +0.43% | #85 |
| 2015 | 18.11% | +0.81% | #78 |
| 2014 | 17.30% | +0.07% | #70 |
| 2013 | 17.23% | +0.25% | #67 |
| 2012 | 16.98% | −0.47% | #66 |
| 2011 | 17.45% | −0.63% | #71 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's industry employment was 18.21% in 2025. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year.
Ireland's industry employment peaked at 28.93% in 2001.
The lowest industry employment in Ireland was 16.98% in 2012.
Ireland ranks 77th globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ireland's industry employment is projected to reach 17.67% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Ireland in 2025 was 18.21%. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_industry-employment,
title = {Ireland Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}