The economy has performed well
The population is ageing fast
Efficiency has not improved in sectors with low firm turnover
Skill shortages are more pronounced
Rising Irish incomes have been shared through the tax and transfer system
Wellbeing is high across multiple dimensions
The economy continues to expand vigorously
Labour market conditions have strengthened
Consumer sentiment has begun to ease amid uncertainty
Construction activity has been supporting investment
The majority of Irish exports are bound for Europe
The current account has moved into surplus
Household debt remains high
Irish banks are well capitalised but the share of non-performing loans remains high
Market interest rates are high in Ireland
Fintech financing is comparatively common
Fiscal policy has recently been less pro-cyclical but should have been tighter
Windfall corporate tax revenues have been accompanied by expenditure overruns
Government debt remains high on a per capita basis
Ageing costs will create substantial fiscal challenges
Basic pension benefits have outpaced consumer prices
The tax burden is low compared with most other European countries
Recurrent taxes on immovable property are underutilised
Environmental taxes are low
The population will grow and age markedly
Labour participation and productivity of local firms remain low
Labour force growth will significantly slow down without higher participation
Ireland’s labour market performance
There is scope for further utilisation of female, young and old labour force
Labour force participation of younger women has significantly increased but many women work considerably fewer hours
Framework conditions of the Irish labour market
Labour market programmes should shift focus to prevention of long-term unemployment
Skills of Irish adults have not improved as much as formal qualifications
Skills mismatch stands out in Ireland due to skills shortages
Satisfaction with the Irish health system declined as waiting times got markedly longer
The use of generic drugs is low in Ireland
Ireland ranks in the middle of the OECD in terms of perceived risks of corruption
There is scope to strengthen enforcement of Irish anti-corruption laws
Renewable energy use has risen
Livestock production is relatively intensive
The economy has been through significant structural change
Services and knowledge-intensive sectors have gained prominence
Dublin has experienced particularly fast economic growth
Intangible capital accumulation has risen notably
Technological adoption has risen, but there are large differences across industries
Technological adoption varies greatly by firm size
Engagement with citizens through government websites is relatively rare
Labour productivity growth in Ireland has been driven by capital inputs
The productivity gap between foreign and Irish-owned firms has widened
Intangible investments have not always been accompanied by higher productivity
Investments in software and economic competencies are low in Ireland
Investment in economic competencies is associated with rising multifactor productivity
Costs are high in the Irish legal services sector
Labour productivity has been particularly weak in sectors with low firm entry and exit
Firm entry and exit rates are lower in Ireland than in many other countries
Complex regulatory procedures and the licensing and permission process impede business activity
Skills of Irish adults are lower than indicated by formal qualifications
Skill shortages in Ireland stand out
The labour market has been tightening
Greater intangible capital investment necessitates re-skilling
Sectors with high intangible investment face difficulties in filling job vacancies
Performance indicators for the adult learning system are mixed
Young and older workers must be better encouraged to participate in training
Smaller firms tend to train less than larger firms
Jobs growth has been particularly strong for those with high skill levels
The pool of jobseekers has declined more rapidly than resources devoted to activation
The share of self-employment in Ireland is around the OECD average
The Dublin dwelling price premium has been rising
Dubliners have been moving to contiguous counties
Many now face a long commute
Dwelling prices reflect supply conditions
Regional inequality has been rising
Local governments have little spending power
The firm entry rate has been weaker in digitally-intensive sectors
Corporate mergers and acquisitions have become more common