The number of people at work in Waterford has risen significantly, according to the latest census 2016 profile report from the CSO which focus on employment, occupations and industry.
As of April 2016, the unemployment rate was 15.4% down from over 21% in 2011.
However the figure is still higher than the national average of 12.9%.
Nationally the number of people at work in Ireland in April 2016 increased to just over 2 million (+11.0%). The numbers of people looking after the home/family continued to decline, falling by
10.1% to 305,556 while the numbers of retired persons increased to 545,407, up 88,013 (19.2%) on 2011.
In Waterford the largest industrial sector in the county was manufacturing, accounting for 7,056 workers (15.5%). The wholesale and retail trade was the next largest, with 6,063 workers (13.3%).
The top five was completed by human health and social work activities (11.7%), education (9.5%) and accommodation and food service activities (6.1%).
There were 2,589 persons working in the Agriculture, forestry and fishing sector (5.7%), compared with 2,560 in April 2011. A further 2,052 persons (4.5%) worked in construction, compared with 1,886
five years previously.
Total unemployment in the county was 8,323 giving an unemployment rate of 15.4%, compared with 21.6% in April 2011. Nationally, the unemployment rate recorded by Census 2016 was 12.9%. Of the
unemployed in the county, 852 (10.2%) were first-time job seekers.
