Economy
- Economic Profile
- Employment and Education
- Unemployment
- Employment Strategy
- Employment Land at Strategic Locations
- Environmental Improvement of Employment Areas
- Non-Conforming Uses
- Commercial Development in Rural Areas
- Tourism and Recreation
- Retail
6.1 Economic Profile
Economic activity in North Tipperary has grown in the period since the last Plan, a fact that was demonstrated by falling unemployment in the late 1990's (from 2,614 in 1996 to 2,068 in 2001). However, recent trends have seen an increase in unemployment with 2,481 in July 2002 rising to 2,952 in July 2003. This is largely a result of slow down in the world economy, particularly US and UK markets.
There has been a rise in disposable incomes in the County from £5,433 in 1991 to £8,828 in 1998, which is a rise of 62.5%. In the period between 1996 and 1998 North Tipperary disposable incomes have risen from 96% of the national average to 98.8%, compared to a figure of 85.8% in South Tipperary. There are only 5 industrial companies with over 200 employees in the County, with a further 14 with over 100 employees. There are approximately 2,170 Small and Medium Enterprises in North Tipperary with 650 service providers, with the bulk of them located in the larger urban areas. (CSO: 1996).
While the County has a varied and diverse economic structure, economic activity is largely centred in urban centres, but there is an increasing amount of economic activity locating in villages and the open countryside. There are currently a variety of small, medium and large-scale commercial enterprises operating in rural settings throughout the County. These provide important sources of employment and contribute to diversification of the rural economy. However, some enterprises have led to conflict with adjacent residential, agricultural and equine activity. It is therefore important to establish a balance between diversification of the rural economy and protecting rural amenities and the quality of the wider environment.
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