What is the employment rate in Sligo?

The employment rate in Sligo was 54.5% 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 Sligo?

In Sligo, 79.1% of households are owner-occupied and 8.3% rent privately, according to Census 2022. The national averages are 76.2% owner-occupied and 11.0% privately rented.

Census Profile · Sligo · 2022

County Sligo — Car-dependent employment profile

Q: Is Sligo a commuter county?

Yes. 73.8% of Sligo workers commute by car — 2.7pp above the national figure of 71.1%. An employment rate of 54.5% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 79.1% and third-level attainment at 53.0% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile. IrelandInsights maps journey time and commute mode at electoral division level.

73.8% of Sligo workers commute by car — 2.7pp above the national figure of 71.1%. An employment rate of 54.5% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 79.1% and third-level attainment at 53.0% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile.

        Sligo is +2.7pp vs national on car commuting.
      

Key statistics — County Sligo

Car Commute

73.8%

+2.7pp vs national

Employment Rate

54.5%

National: 55.2%

Owner-Occupied

79.1%

National: 76.2%

Third-Level

53.0%

National: 52.6%

Top electoral divisions — Car Commute in Sligo

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

Electoral Division	Car Commute Rate
1. KILSHALVY	86.3%
2. BRICKLIEVE	84.9%
3. LISSADILL EAST	83.4%
4. BALLINTOGHER EAST	83%
5. COOLANEY	82.9%

Explore Sligo data on the map

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

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

County Sligo — what stands out

What stands out?

County Sligo has a notably high housing vacancy rate, ranking 5th nationally — 20.7% 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?

Sligo20.7%

National avg14.4%

Difference+6.3pp

Rank5 / 26

What's the likely explanation?

Elevated vacancy in this county reflects a mix of seasonal holiday homes and long-term rural outmigration. The empty properties are dispersed across townlands rather than concentrated in urban centres — a structural pattern rather than a sign of weak urban demand. The post-2020 shift to remote working has drawn some buyers to previously overlooked rural areas, but the underlying vacancy pattern predates and outlasts that trend.

County Sligo — census data context

County-level figures aggregate all electoral divisions within Sligo. The map reveals the internal variation those county averages suppress — the gap between the most and least deprived EDs in Sligo is typically far wider than the county-to-national difference highlighted above. View the full Sligo 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 Sligo · Electoral Division averages · cso.ie/census