Facts about Cork

Population

• Area served - 7,422 square kilometres (including Islands)
• County Council staff - 2,780
• County Council annual turnover (capital and revenue) - €459 million in 2011

Cork County Council - What we Do

Housing and Building

• Road Transportation and Safety
• Water Supply and Sewerage
• Development Incentives and Controls
• Environmental Protection
• Recreation and Amenity
• Agriculture, Education, Health and Welfare
• Miscellaneous Functions

County Cork - Demographics

40% of the population is under 25.

• The population is growing by 2.5% per annum.
• The workforce is growing by 5% per annum.
• 60% of third-level students are studying engineering, science or business.
• Cork has the highest number of computer science graduates per 100,000 in OECD.
• Cork has the lowest percentage of over 65s in Europe (11%).

 Indicators

• Rapid growth in GDP per person has moved Ireland up the EU living standards league table.
• The unemployment rate fell from a peak of 17% in the 1980s to under 4% in 2001.
• The labour-force participation rate of women rose from its low initial level to close to the EU average.
• The high net emigration rate of the 1980s has been replaced by what is now the highest net immigration rate in the EU.
• In recent years, immigration has accounted for about 50% of growth in the labour force.
• Cork has attracted a larger share of the economic growth than many areas outside of Dublin.
• Within County Cork, disparities remain between growth in metropolitan areas and the relative weakness of the economy in North and West Cork, with their high dependence on agriculture.

 Cork - Sustainable Factors

• Business friendly and efficient operating environment.
• Excellent quality of life.
• Extensive educational opportunities.
• Good access roads/railway/airport.
• Effective telecommunications, including broadband.
• Good quality physical infrastructure.
• High-quality environment.
• Reliable access to energy.
• Good links between business and third-level institutions.

Clusters of similar or inter-related businesses tend to form and consolidate in particular geographical locations, and spatial policy must take account of this.

Sources of Investment

• USA - 77%
• UK - 6%
• Germany - 5%
• Switzerland - 3%
• Others - 9%