Foreigners help build economy as workforce swells by 3.9%

ALMOST one in three hotel and restaurant workers is a foreigner, according to new figures underlining the importance of immigration to Ireland’s economy.

Figures released by the Government yesterday showed that the labour force — the number of adults available for work — grew by 3.9% to 2,166,700 in the 12 months to March, with the rise fuelled by immigration.

Foreigners now account for about 320,000 of the labour force, according to research by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).