Employment at IDA-backed firms rose by 1.5pc during the year, with new investments approved in 2025 expected to create more than 15,300 additional jobs in the coming years.
This represents a 14pc increase in job creation compared with 2024, according to annual results published by the state agency today.
IDA Ireland approved a total of 323 investment projects during the year, the highest number on record and up 38pc on the previous year.
These projects included both new companies setting up in Ireland for the first time and expansions by existing multinational employers, it said.
Almost one quarter of the projects approved came from first-time investors, with 78 companies choosing Ireland as a new base for operations. These investments originated from North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
IDA Ireland chief executive Michael Lohan said the number of major investment announcements has been lower than in previous years, but this reflected the more challenging global environment. US multinationals have been under pressure from US president Donald Trump to re-shore their manufacturing activities to America.
“We haven’t seen the same level of announcements that we’ve seen in previous years, and that is reflective of the environment we’re in,” Mr Lohan said.
He pointed towards firms taking more time to make decisions, with uncertainty around costs, global growth and geopolitics affecting the timing and scale of new projects, even as employment continued to increase.
Job creation was spread across the country, as out of the 323 projects approved, 183 were located outside Dublin, accounting for more than half of all investments.
Regional locations continued to attract manufacturing, technology and services roles, while Dublin remained a key centre for digital, engineering and research-led employment, it said.
The IDA noted that research and development played a role in the growth experienced, with client companies committing €2.5bn to research, development and innovation projects during 2025, the highest level recorded in a single year.
These projects are linked to areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies and advanced product development, supporting higher-skilled roles.
The IDA said several multinational companies announced new or expanded operations during the year. New projects included Datavant, a health data platform company, which opened a research and development centre in Galway, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, which announced a digital engineering centre in Dublin.
Existing firms also expanded their Irish operations, including projects by Ericsson, GE Healthcare, IBM and PayPal across locations such as Athlone, Cork and Waterford.
IDA figures show continued spending by foreign-owned companies in the Irish economy. Client expenditure reached €40.7bn, covering payroll, Irish suppliers and services, while capital expenditure reached €12.8bn.
“Today’s record results are a powerful endorsement of the strength and resilience of foreign direct investment in Ireland,” said Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister Peter Burke, who attended the launch of the results alongside Mr Lohan and IDA chairman Fearghal O’Rourke.
“The continued growth, innovation and competitiveness of our FDI sector are testament to the trusted relationships built by IDA Ireland and the exceptional talent of our workforce,” the minister added.
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