Dublin Economic Monitor

The Dublin private sector made a positive start to 2025, with business activity rising on the back of higher new orders. There was good news for the labour market as well, with the pace of job creation picking up. The picture in the capital was broadly similar to across the Rest of Ireland in the early part of the year. One slight area of concern was a reduction in manufacturing output which limited the overall pace of growth. This will hopefully be a temporary blip and we'll see growth return in the second quarter, with the fall perhaps representing some caution in the sector amid uncertainty around US trade policy.

Dublin's economy continues to show impressive resilience, with solid private sector growth and employment levels holding firm despite some sectoral headwinds. The broad-based expansion across manufacturing, construction, and services is particularly encouraging, reinforcing the capital's position as a key driver of national economic performance. However, challenges remain, particularly in housing supply and FDI flows, which policymakers will need to address to sustain this positive momentum.