by Ruaidhri Horan, Marketing Manager, Abrivia Recruitment
A diverse workforce is key to fuelling Irelands economic success. Attracting diversity is a challenge to many firms. The census provides a very useful insight into race diversity in Ireland and should be used as a useful tool when trying to attract different nationalities into your workforce. For example, you know which towns to target if you want to attract native Lithuanian speakers into your organisation.
The 2016 Census found that the top non-Irish nationalities living in Ireland were from Poland, the UK and Lithuania. In 2016 there were 122,515 Polish nationals, 103,113 from the UK and 36,552 Lithuanian nationals living in Ireland.
Out of 122,515 Polish people living in Ireland a staggering 53,343 were married and 91% were living with their spouse. The town with the largest Polish population when compared to the overall population is Millstreet in County Cork, where 17% of the population are Polish. This is closely followed by Ballymahon in Longford where the Polish population represents 15% of the overall population of the town.
Interestingly, 19% of UK nationals living in Ireland are retired. This is much higher than the state average, which currently stands at 14%. Also 20% of UK nationals, both male and female, are working in the professional sector. There is a significant difference between occupations of UK males living in Ireland when compared to all males in the state. For example, the overall average for all “males living in the state” working in the professional sector was 15% whereas amongst UK males, this stood at 20%. Associate Professionals for all males living in the state averaged 13% whereas for UK males living in Ireland, this figure was higher at 16%.
In regards relationships 41% of UK nationals aged 15 years and over had an Irish partner in 2016.
A higher percentage of UK nationals live in rural areas and 51% own a detached house. The towns with the largest UK population when compared to their overall population are Killorglin, Kerry (6%), Skibbereen, Cork (6%), Kenmare, Kerry (6%), Ballaghdereen, Roscommon (5%) and Dunmore East, Wexford (5%).
In 2016, there were 36,552 Lithuanian nationals living in Ireland, with a quarter residing in county Dublin. The towns outside of Dublin which had the largest Lithuanian population were Navan, Drogheda and Monaghan town. The proportion of the Lithuanian population at work was higher than the states average. In 2016. 23% of Lithuanian nationals worked in the wholesale and retail trade, 16% in manufacturing and 12% in accommodation and food service activities. When looking at relationships, only 41% of Lithuanians had an Irish partner which is interesting when you consider that 41% of UK nationals had an Irish partner in 2016.
This valuable information is available for the Top 12 non-Irish nationalities living in Ireland, courtesy of the Census 2016.
