October sees highest ever month of job announcements in Limerick

  • Limerick City taken from above

Limerick’s dramatic resurgence as one of the nation’s fastest-growing economic hubs continues as October saw record-breaking results in jobs and over €80 million in investment.

The announcement of 935 jobs in October was the highest in any one month period to date, and the total jobs announced in Limerick so far this year has already reached a five year high of 3,022.

Since the 2013 launch of Limerick 2030 Vision: An Economic and Spatial Plan -the successful local authority framework/blueprint for rebuilding the city and county - a total of 15,750 jobs have been announced.

Not alone is the labour market showing strong signs of improvement, the physical revitalisation of the city centre is well underway with the development of key projects under Limerick Twenty Thirty, the special purpose vehicle established by the local authority to help drive the renaissance. Troy Studios, the first project, is up and running and its first major rebuild, Gardens International on Henry Street, is near completion and with its first tenant, Nordic Aviation Capital, set to take up tenancy in the new year.

Another major cause for celebration is the strong investment of €517.3 million seen so far this year.

October also saw what has been one of the most exciting announcements in recent years for the city as Edwards Lifesciences Corporation revealed it has chosen the National Technology Park, Castletroy, as the location for its new permanent facility.

The company, headquartered in Irvine, California, plans to complete the new 170,000 square feet facility by 2021. Once fully operational, it is expected to employ approximately 600 people with an investment in the project of around €80 million.

Limerick’s northside also received an exciting boost after a multi-million euro proposal to build a ‘Barack Obama Plaza’ style service station, creating up to 150 new jobs, was given the green light by An Bord Pleanala.

The development will be ideally located beside the Coonagh Roundabout and the Clondrinagh Business Park.

In further retail news, MACE opened a new 3,200sq.ft store on Thomas Street in Limerick city centre creating 30 jobs.

Telecommunications firm eir announced plans to create up to 120, mainly customer-service roles at their exchange in Roches Street.

And Azon Recruitment Group has a further 35 roles to fill with the opening of new offices at Henry Street in Limerick.

In October, a total of 104 new planning applications were also received, including plans for two housing, 12 commercial and 14 sporting/community & educational developments.

Critically also, the current applications also include proposals for the construction of 17 residential units at Gough Place, Rosbrien Road, 30 at Pallas, Pallaskenry and 17 at Cuirt na hAbhann, Clarina.

Applications have also been received for the construction of a medical device manufacturing facility at Rivers, National Technology Park, Castletroy, and a logistics facility at Annacotty Industrial Estate.

Further positives for Limerick include the continued upsurge in online engagement between the public and Limerick City and County Council, with 131,007 visitors to the Limerick.ie website in October – a 36% increase on the same period in 2017.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr James Collins said: “Limerick is the urban success story of the recovery. The key barometer for any region is jobs and in Limerick we have created over 15,000 full-time jobs since 2013.

"That’s unprecedented growth for Limerick and it is an exciting time for our city, county and the whole of the Mid-West. The future for Limerick City and County is as the economic driver of the Mid-West region. Limerick City and County Council and its stakeholders have worked hard to bring about the progress we are witnessing. We can be extremely positive about Limerick’s future."

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