Donegal ranks in top 10 counties of IDA-supported jobs in 2025

An answer from Dáil Éireann has shown that Donegal ranks as the eighth highest county for the number of jobs supported by Ireland’s Foreign Direct Investment Agency (IDA).

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, answered a question from Clare’s Deputy Cathal Crowe, who asked for the number of IDA-supported jobs in each county at the end of 2025.

Donegal had a recorded 5,687 IDA-supported jobs in 2025 out of the 312,468 jobs nationwide. 

Dublin topped the county table with over 140,000 IDA-supported jobs, followed by Cork, Galway, Limerick, Kildare, Waterford, and Clare.

Laois had the fewest IDA-supported jobs nationally, with only 156.

Minister Burke said: “Foreign Direct Investment is a key element of our economic strategy, with investments by IDA Ireland client companies consistently generating highly skilled jobs nationwide. 

READ NEXT: Donegal County Council receives 20-dwelling development Letterkenny application

“In this context, I launched IDA Ireland's current strategy, ‘Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29', in February last year. 

“Central to the IDA’s strategy is an emphasis on partnering with existing clients to identify opportunities to safeguard and strengthen long-term investment in Ireland, alongside attracting new investment to Ireland in FDI growth drivers, including digitalisation and AI, semiconductors, health, and sustainability.

“Supporting job creation in all regions is central to the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. 

“In this regard, IDA client-company employment increased to 312,468 in 2025, and there are currently 169,967 people employed in IDA client companies outside Dublin, with FDI employment in every region and every county of Ireland. This represents 54% of all IDA client-company employment nationally.”