EI optimistic despite 19,000 job losses

MORE than 19,000 jobs were lost in 2009 in Enterprise Ireland-backed firms while exports fell 10% to €13 billion.

However, the state agency’s annual report for last year predicts the companies it serves will generate 60,000 jobs by the end of 2015.

New jobs created this year should also beat the 2009 figure of 7,443 as trading conditions show some improvement.