Tech firms creating 190 jobs a week

Over 190 jobs have been created on average every week by technology firms in Ireland so far this year.

This is more than double the number created in the first 10 months of last year, when the sector produced on average 80 jobs a week.

Speaking at a conference yesterday, Paul Sweetman, director of IBEC’s technology sectors, including ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association, said that 1,715 jobs had been created in January and February.

He said this was “probably a record” and included both large job announcements, such as PayPal, and smaller ones by indigenous companies. He said this followed employment growth of 4% in 2010 and 6% in 2009. He said 3,500 jobs were announced in 2010 and 4,000 in 2011.

Mr Sweetman said total employment in the sector was now hitting 90,000, with all of the top 10 technology companies present in Ireland.