There has been a decline in the number of jobs at IDA supported companies. The agency's end of year statement shows there were just over 9,000 jobs created during 2003 while over 12,000 were lost.
In a statement the agency said the job figures were disappointing, but it was attracting projects with high levels of skill and value where the projected job numbers were inevitably lower.
The IDA says it is pursuing a 'new breed' of high level projects and has been pleased this year to have secured high-profile internet companies such as Google and eBay as well as major investments in the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors.
40% of the new jobs created by IDA-backed companies this year will pay salaries in excess of €37,000 euro, according to the agency. But chief executive Sean Dorgan said the projected job numbers associated with high value projects were lower than previous job-intensive investments. He said the IDA was now targeting these investments rather than jobs directly.
Mr Dorgan said he believed 2004 would be the best year since 2000 for new investments, helped by the recovery in the US economy.
The end of year statement also shows that IDA backed companies exported €65.2 billion worth of good and services last year while €14.7 billion was spent by IDA companies in Ireland. In total these companies employ 129,000 people here.
