Demographics

Waterford City’s Regional population will rise annually by +1.3% from 604,000 in 2018 to 804,000 in 2040. This 30% rise in the regional population will be driven by a +60% rise in the Waterford City urban population.

These projected growth rates are very much in line with the Irish Government’s National Planning Framework (Project Ireland 2040) which anticipates a 30,000 increase in population in Waterford City to 2040. The anticipated 200,00 extra people in the region are in line with population growth trends seen in the 2000-2018 period and represents the largest city-region catchment outside of Dublin.

Waterford City Region is the 6^th fastest growing region in the EU in terms of job growth.  The Waterford City Region is creating Unemployment rate >1,000 additional jobs annually. 40% of new jobs are being created in high-value added sectors in high-Tech Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific and ICT Sectors.

Waterford City Region is ranked  2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place winners of European Cities and Regions of the Future 2018/2019 for economic potential, business friendliness and FDi Strategy in its population category.

• Glanbia announced plans to build a new €140 million cheese manufacturing facility in Belview.
• Bausch & Lomb will create 100 jobs as part of a €115 million investment. The 100 new jobs will be in addition to the 1,350 employees currently employed in Waterford.
• West Pharma will create 300 new jobs at the Waterford site which is a high-end €100 million investment into a Greenfield site.
• Eirgen/Opko Health’s decision to establish their global R&D centre of excellence means an additional 125 jobs which will double the current workforce to 250.
• Eurofins Scientific has announced plans to create an additional 175 new jobs in Waterford and bring their Waterford based workforce to 500.
• Bluefin, a leader in secure payment platforms for merchants has established its European headquarters in Waterford.
• The Agora Companies, the global publishing consortium, has brought 125 additional jobs to its Waterford offices in digital publishing, software development, technical support and customer services.
• Sanofi has recently invested €200 million into the Waterford based biotechnology campus. Lantus, Sanofi’s insulin brand is now added to the list of products made at the Waterford site.

With 70% of the population of the Waterford City Region of working age and 23% of the population under the age of 18, the population is one of the youngest in Ireland.

With 70% of the population of the Waterford City Region of working age and 23% of the population under the age of 18, the population is one of the youngest in Ireland.