What is the employment rate in Limerick?

The employment rate in Limerick was 53.3% according to Census 2022, compared to a national average of 56.1%. IrelandInsights maps employment at electoral division level for every county in Ireland.

What is the housing tenure breakdown in Limerick?

In Limerick, 64.6% of households are owner-occupied and 17.7% rent privately, according to Census 2022. The national averages are 65.9% owner-occupied and 18.0% privately rented.

Census Profile · Limerick · 2022

County Limerick — Car-dependent employment profile

Q: Is Limerick a commuter county?

Yes. 65.8% of Limerick workers commute by car — 3.5pp above the national figure of 62.4%. An employment rate of 53.3% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 64.6% and third-level attainment at 40.1% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile. IrelandInsights maps journey time and commute mode at electoral division level.

65.8% of Limerick workers commute by car — 3.5pp above the national figure of 62.4%. An employment rate of 53.3% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 64.6% and third-level attainment at 40.1% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile.

        Limerick is +3.5pp vs national on car commuting.
      

Key statistics — County Limerick

Car Commute

65.8%

+3.5pp vs national

Employment Rate

53.3%

National: 56.1%

Owner-Occupied

64.6%

National: 65.9%

Third-Level

40.1%

National: 42.4%

Top electoral divisions — Car Commute in Limerick

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

Electoral Division	Car Commute Rate
1. BALLYNACARRIGA	89.1%
2. CRAGGS	88.3%
3. KILFERGUS	87.9%
4. CARRIG	87.3%
5. BALLYNOE WEST	87%

Explore Limerick data on the map

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

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

County Limerick — what stands out

What stands out?

County Limerick has the highest unemployment rate in Ireland — 6.1% in Census 2022.

Why does it matter?

Unemployment rate captures active labour market weakness — those who want work but cannot find it. Even small differences from the national average are meaningful: a sustained 1–2pp gap compounds over years, affecting household income, local business, and social outcomes.

How does it compare nationally?

Limerick6.1%

National avg4.3%

Difference+1.8pp

Rank1 / 26

What's the likely explanation?

Above-average unemployment reflects structural weaknesses in the local labour market — limited large employers, reliance on seasonal sectors (tourism, agriculture), or historical deindustrialisation. This typically coexists with higher commuting rates, as workers travel further afield for jobs unavailable locally.

County Limerick — census data context

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

Compare counties

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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 Limerick · Electoral Division averages · cso.ie/census