International financial services jobs up by 1,100

THE number of people employed in international financial services in Ireland increased by more than 1,100 last year.

The total number of people working in banking, fund management and the insurance sectors grew by 7% to 17,610, according to the Finance Dublin Yearbook, which was published yesterday. About half of the new jobs were created in the banking sector, with employment rising by 561 to 6,871.

The job gains came from companies like Merrill Lynch, which more than doubled its staff in Ireland in 2004 from 230 to 506 with the establishment of a European support services hub.