Enterprise Ireland says its clients created over 18,000 jobs last year.
The agency's end-of-year statement says its companies created a net total of almost 5,5000 jobs in 2013.
The figures mean that over 175,000 people are now employed by Irish companies supported by the State's investment agency.
CEO Julie Sinnamon says the jobs are not just in major cities but spread nationwide:
“Our client companies are now responsible for in excess of 16 percent of the total workforce – and that's more than 300,000 jobs are created and depended upon by Irish industry, so it's a very significant figure” she said.
“These jobs are in every town and village in Ireland” she added.
