State agency Enterprise Ireland has said 2010 was a year of strong recovery for exports.
In its end-of-year statement, the body said the outlook for Irish companies was more positive now than at any point over the past three years.
The number of people working in firms supported by Enterprise Ireland this year was down by just over 3,700 from last year.
It said 156,577 people were now working full-time and part-time in its companies, describing the 2.3% drop as a 'stabilisation'. Full-time employment fell 5,355 to 137,241.
Enterprise Ireland said exports from its member firms rose last year, recovering around 70% of the losses made in 2009. It said it expected new export sales of around €1 billion this year.
