What is the employment rate in Carlow?

The employment rate in Carlow was 56.6% according to Census 2022, compared to a national average of 55.2%. IrelandInsights maps employment at electoral division level for every county in Ireland.

What is the housing tenure breakdown in Carlow?

In Carlow, 78.5% of households are owner-occupied and 8.5% rent privately, according to Census 2022. The national averages are 76.2% owner-occupied and 11.0% privately rented.

Census Profile · Carlow · 2022

County Carlow — Car-dependent employment profile

Q: Is Carlow a commuter county?

Yes. 73.6% of Carlow workers commute by car — 2.5pp above the national figure of 71.1%. An employment rate of 56.6% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 78.5% and third-level attainment at 51.8% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile. IrelandInsights maps journey time and commute mode at electoral division level.

73.6% of Carlow workers commute by car — 2.5pp above the national figure of 71.1%. An employment rate of 56.6% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 78.5% and third-level attainment at 51.8% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile.

        Carlow is +2.5pp vs national on car commuting.
      

Key statistics — County Carlow

Car Commute

73.6%

+2.5pp vs national

Employment Rate

56.6%

National: 55.2%

Owner-Occupied

78.5%

National: 76.2%

Third-Level

51.8%

National: 52.6%

Top electoral divisions — Car Commute in Carlow

The electoral divisions within County Carlow with the highest car commute rate, Census 2022.

Electoral Division	Car Commute Rate
1. TIKNOCK	85.8%
2. BURTON HALL	85.1%
3. CLOGRENAN	82.3%
4. HAROLDSTOWN	80.7%
5. MYSHALL	80.7%

Explore Carlow data on the map

Every electoral division in County Carlow is mapped. Hover to inspect Census 2022 figures or ask the AI analyst for a plain-language explanation.

Car-dependent employment profile — Carlow map Employment — Carlow Housing — Carlow

County Carlow — what stands out

What stands out?

County Carlow has a housing vacancy rate of 10.0%, ranking 19th nationally — 10.0% in Census 2022.

Why does it matter?

Housing vacancy is a barometer of housing demand and population pressure. A high rate signals supply vastly exceeding demand — whether from rural depopulation, seasonal use, or post-2008 ghost estates. A low rate signals the opposite: demand that supply cannot match, which directly drives rent and price inflation.

How does it compare nationally?

Carlow10.0%

National avg14.4%

Difference-4.4pp

Rank19 / 26

What's the likely explanation?

A low vacancy rate signals high housing demand relative to supply — typical in urban-dominated counties where rental pressure keeps dwellings occupied and new supply struggles to keep up. Low vacancy is a precondition for housing affordability pressure: when vacancy falls below ~3%, rents and prices typically rise faster than incomes.

County Carlow — census data context

County-level figures aggregate all electoral divisions within Carlow. The map reveals the internal variation those county averages suppress — the gap between the most and least deprived EDs in Carlow is typically far wider than the county-to-national difference highlighted above. View the full Carlow area guide →

Compare counties

Kildare Wicklow Wexford Kilkenny Laois Dublin Cork

Ireland census guides

→ Where to live in Ireland → Housing crisis by area → Home ownership rates → Education levels → Unemployment by area → Commuter towns → Deprivation map → Population growth

Data: CSO Census 2022 · County Carlow · Electoral Division averages · cso.ie/census