24. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Taoiseach to provide the most up to date numbers on employment levels in the hospitality sector and whether there is any evidence of reduced hours or net job losses [25147/24]

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of employment estimates in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q1 2024.

The LFS sectoral employment figures are based on the EU NACE Rev. 2 classification.

Table 1 below shows the number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) in the NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector I (Accommodation & Food Service activities) Q1 2019 – Q1 2024.

There were 174,500 persons employed in Sector I Accommodation & Food Service activities in Q1 2024. This is an increase of 1,500 persons or 0.9% compared with 12 months earlier.

Table 2 below shows the total hours worked in NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector I (Accommodation & Food Service activities) Q1 2019 – Q1 2024.

A total of 4.8 million hours* were worked in Sector I Accommodation & Food Service activities in Q1 2024. This is an increase of 140,000 hours or 2.9% compared with 12 months earlier.

*rounded to the nearest 100,000 hours

Table 2 Hours worked Q1 2019 - 2024, millions

Table 1 Number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) Q1 2019-2024 '000

Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar, q2=Apr-Jun, q3=Jul-Sep, q4=Oct-Dec.