Mayo’s employment growth second lowest in State

EMPLOYMENT in Mayo grew by just 4.8% in the past five years - the second lowest growth in the State (after Sligo) and below the national average of 11%.

The share of people in the labour force, those either working or looking for work, is also notably below the national average. Mayo is one of only six counties where the labour force shrank - by 1.5% over the five years from 2011 to 2016. This compares to a national increase of 3.2%.

These figures are according to a detailed analysis of the county’s labour market by the Western Development Commission (WDC), based on data from the Census of Population 2016.

The data also shows that Mayo had a total population of 130,507 in 2016, down 0.1% on 2011 figures. Mayo and Donegal are the only two counties nationally where the population declined.

The WDC analysis shows that the county has a labour force of 60,030, or 57.7% of the county’s adult population. The labour force includes both the number of people at work and those looking for work.

This figure is notably below the national average of 61.9% and represents a decline of 1.5% on the previous Census, compared with 3.2% growth nationally.

Mayo is also one of just six counties where the labour force shrank. Other counties in the western region where the labour force declined were Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.

The number of persons at work, at 51,439, represents 49.5% of the adult population, compared to a State average of 53.4%.

Commuting is an important factor and almost 10% of those employed commute outside of the county for work.

At 8,591, the 8.3% share of the county’s adults who are unemployed is higher than the national average of 7.9%.

The number of retired in Mayo is the highest in the State, accounting for 19.3% of all adults compared to a national average of 14.5%.

Said Pauline White, policy analyst with the WDC: “From these figures, it’s clear that Mayo has not benefitted to the same extent from the recent jobs recovery. While the situation has improved since 2011, with strong growth in manufacturing and health, other sectors such as agriculture, retail and knowledge services have not performed well.

“Out-migration of young people has reduced the county’s labour force and available skills. Supporting these young people to return to set up their own business — and showing potential employers that there’s an appetite to return to Mayo if jobs are available — could help stimulate growth.”

The top three sectors for employment in Mayo are: Wholesale & Retail; Industry; and Health & Social Work, which account for 36.5% of all jobs.

Employment in the health sector grew by 15.7% compared with a national rise of 13.4%, and is the county’s strongest growing sector. An additional 593 jobs in the residential care field during this period reflects the county’s older age profile.

Almost twice the national average (8.5% compared with 4.4%) are employed in agriculture but employment in this sector has plummeted. There are over 1,000 fewer farmers now than five years ago, representing a decline of 17.9%, compared to an average State decline of 2.6%.

Since 2011, employment in the accommodation and food service sector is up 11.7%, now representing 7.6% of the total workforce, compared to a national average of 5.8%.

The WDC analysis also shows employment in public administration declined more in Mayo than elsewhere, dropping 10.1% in five years compared to a 6.3% national decline.

Construction jobs were up by 8.4%, compared to a national increase of 16.6%, but it still remains a significant employer in the county, accounting for 6.3% of all jobs.

Mayo saw its biggest jobs loss, an 18.8% decline, in financial services, compared to a national decline of 1.3% in the same sector. This is linked to the closure of bank branches and other financial institutions.

Said Ms. White: “Examining the needs and issues of the western region through in-depth analysis is a key part of the work of the Western Development Commission (WDC). We hope the analysis for each individual county can help local authorities, community groups and businesses in each county plan for the future.

“It is important that we more fully understand why some of the sectoral changes in employment are taking place in Co. Mayo, and its wider region, and the impact that these are having on the county’s economy and its residents.”