What is the employment rate in Waterford?

The employment rate in Waterford was 53.8% 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 Waterford?

In Waterford, 64.6% of households are owner-occupied and 15.9% rent privately, according to Census 2022. The national averages are 65.9% owner-occupied and 18.0% privately rented.

Census Profile · Waterford · 2022

County Waterford — Car-dependent employment profile

Q: Is Waterford a commuter county?

Yes. 68.6% of Waterford workers commute by car — 6.2pp above the national figure of 62.4%. An employment rate of 53.8% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 64.6% and third-level attainment at 37.8% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile. IrelandInsights maps journey time and commute mode at electoral division level.

68.6% of Waterford workers commute by car — 6.2pp above the national figure of 62.4%. An employment rate of 53.8% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 64.6% and third-level attainment at 37.8% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile.

        Waterford is +6.2pp vs national on car commuting.
      

Key statistics — County Waterford

Car Commute

68.6%

+6.2pp vs national

Employment Rate

53.8%

National: 56.1%

Owner-Occupied

64.6%

National: 65.9%

Third-Level

37.8%

National: 42.4%

Top electoral divisions — Car Commute in Waterford

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

Electoral Division	Car Commute Rate
1. KILRONAN	86.7%
2. GEORGESTOWN	85%
3. St. MARY'S	84.6%
4. CARRICKBEG RURAL	83.9%
5. BALLYHEENY	83.8%

Explore Waterford data on the map

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

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

County Waterford — what stands out

What stands out?

County Waterford has one of Ireland's highest non-Irish citizens rates, ranking 2nd nationally — 16.1% in Census 2022.

Why does it matter?

The share of non-Irish citizens reflects patterns of economic migration — the sectors and regions that attract international workers. It reveals where specific industries (agri-food, healthcare, tech) are drawing workers from abroad, and where integration services are most needed.

How does it compare nationally?

Waterford16.1%

National avg10.6%

Difference+5.5pp

Rank2 / 26

What's the likely explanation?

A high non-Irish citizen rate reflects migration patterns tied to economic opportunity — agri-food processing, meat and dairy industries, hospitality, and healthcare draw workers from across the EU and further afield. Migration in rural Ireland often reflects specific employer demand rather than general urban pull, creating concentrated non-Irish communities in otherwise low-population counties.

County Waterford — census data context

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