State marks Workers’ Day with positive spin on CSO statistics including Galway
The Government marked May Day with a positive commentary on employment figures – as Monday’s Bank Holiday also coincided with International Workers’ Day, providing an opportunity to reflect on social progress, workers’ rights, and the vital contribution of workers to Ireland’s economic and social development.
The most recent CSO Labour Force Survey for Q4 2025 shows that employment in Ireland has risen to over 2.83 million people, the highest level ever recorded.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, said that Ireland had a proud history of supporting workers in Ireland.
“This year marks 80 years of the Industrial Relations Act 1946, which provided for the establishment of the Labour Court to uphold rights, and it has now been 70 years since the Conditions of Employment Act 1956 which improved legal standards for employees’ working conditions, including holiday entitlements and rest periods,” he said.
“The number of people working in Ireland has never been so high. Our role in Government is to ensure that this country continues to be a great place to live, invest and work.
The contribution of workers to our national wellbeing cannot be underestimated
“The contribution of workers to our national wellbeing cannot be underestimated, and I am committed to supporting that contribution in work as Minister,” he added.
Minister of State for Employment, Small Businesses and Retail, Alan Dillon, described workers as ‘the backbone of our economy that is why we continue to provide additional protections and supports to safeguard them in the workplace’.
“In recent months we have agreed an Action Plan on Collective Bargaining with the Social Partners; increased the minimum wage and the Minimum Adequate Remuneration; signed in new legislation to give workers the option of working longer, protecting their rights at insolvency, supporting health and safety protections; and we commenced further improvements to arrangements surrounding the legislation granting the right to request remote working, to give just some examples,” he said.
And Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth insisted that, as our digital world evolves, Ireland’s focus – and that of the EU – would will be on ensuring that adequate protections are put in place for workers to reflect the evolving world of work.
“Our Presidency of the EU will have a strong focus on the importance of quality jobs for all. We will continue to engage across industries to better understand the diverse needs of workers, championing fair labour mobility, and ensuring no group is left behind,” she said.