Ireland: 7,261 New Jobs Created Outside Dublin in 2025

Ireland's small business sector just proved that opportunity isn't confined to capital cities anymore.

The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) announced that its client companies created 7,261 new jobs in 2025, marking a milestone year for entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country. Even better news: 82% of these jobs opened up outside of Dublin, bringing meaningful career opportunities to towns and villages nationwide.

This growth pushed the total number of jobs supported by LEO clients past 40,000 for the first time since the organization launched in 2014. That's a 7% jump from 2024 alone.

The jobs span thriving sectors including manufacturing, engineering, energy services, environmental technology, design, and tech businesses. These industries are riding waves of rising demand, technological innovation, and the shift toward sustainable and digital business models.

Here's something important to note: these numbers only count businesses that received direct financial support from LEO. Thousands more companies accessed training, mentoring, and productivity resources that likely created even more opportunities.

The Ripple Effect

Small businesses face real challenges competing with larger companies for talent, but they're finding creative solutions. As operating costs climb, many are shifting from part-time and seasonal workers to subcontracting and project-based arrangements that offer flexibility for both employers and workers.

This entrepreneurial resilience is rebuilding Ireland's economic landscape from the ground up. When small businesses thrive in local communities, they create jobs that keep families rooted in their hometowowns instead of forcing them to relocate for work.

Kieran Comerford, LEO's chair, emphasized that job creation tells only part of the story. "These figures highlight the significant impact that the Local Enterprise Offices and their clients are making in driving economic growth across the country," he said. "The creation of over 7,000 jobs is only a small part of the role that LEOs are playing in fostering entrepreneurship."

The momentum shows no signs of slowing as LEO prepares to support even more entrepreneurs with great ideas in 2026.