Just Over 4,000 Working In Ballinasloe Town

 By Colm Croffy

​Despite the tapering of building work to hospitals and residential stock in the past few months, employment by firms, semi-states and sectors – the average approximate number of persons employed stands at some 4,165, down marginally less than 2.5% from 24 months ago when we undertook the desk research. In essence, there are some 4,165 persons gainfully employed in jobs in town – this does not account for those residing here and commuting to other centres for their work. What is lost in some of the commentary of late is that the decimation of our manufacturing base, with the loss of some 750 jobs concluding with the Square D closure some 16 years ago, has seen a markedly more diverse labour force emerge but close to par when “we had all those great factories” is back to some 500 or 12% of what we can track. The largest sector by numbers is the healthcare sector, which is now responsible for some 31% of the workforce.

​The Government, across a range of departments and agencies, accounts for about 12% of the workforce. These figures do not track at all the number of farmers in the hinterland of the town, nor are we counting the significant number of retirees who command significant spending power. Most areas across Galway have experienced a dip in unemployment levels in the most recent month for data – November 2024. Almost 200 people left the Live Register across the city and county in November, with the state experiencing practically full employment at 4.2% for year end. While around 20 people left the Live Register in both Ballinasloe and Gort, with the totals there now 957 and 532 respectively. The only two areas to have an increase in unemployment in Galway were Clifden and Loughrea.

hat is worrying though is an end-of-year analysis from HERO of the increase from 2023 of new jobs offered in our neighbouring/ competing counties – Offaly topped the poll in newly advertised positions nationwide with nearly 68% growth, Mayo almost 50%, Westmeath 27% and, shockingly, Galway City and County at merely 14.3%. A worrying trend for those charged with attracting new investment to the locality.

Latest Work Figures Ballinasloe