The latest employment figures from Local Enterprise Office-supported businesses show that 7,261 new jobs were created last year.
This represents a 7% increase on 2024, and a net employment gain of 2,479.
Local Enterprise Offices provide information and support for people starting up or growing their business.
They have offices in each local authority area and are funded through Enterprise Ireland.
The number of jobs financially supported by the Local Enterprise Offices has gone above 40,000 across the country for the first time.
Client companies who have received funding through their Local Enterprise Office (LEO) are now supporting 40,285 jobs, with 82% of them outside the Dublin Region.
Despite concerns that the EU-US trade deal could collapse give the new US tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump over Greenland, Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, said it is all about looking at the challenges and finding opportunities in the marketplace.
"A lot of this is very hypothetical at the moment, so it's really important for most to have training in place for people, mentoring in place for people, and as well advisors on the ground," said Mr Comerford.
"SMEs have been dealing with tariffs since last August, so in the context of export supports, we have a suite of export supports that guide people through it," he said.
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98% of companies across the network are small SMEs and they include manufacturing internationally traded services companies that have been financially supported by the Local Enterprise Offices.
These companies operate in a wide variety of areas from craft and manufacturing to services and software.
Recruitment and retention as well as costs are ongoing issues for smaller businesses in competition with larger companies, according to Mr Comerford.
"Every county has its own economics in the context of things, reactive causes, but its always about balance," he noted.
"From certain situations opportunities arise and local enterprise offices are great at focusing on how we can support you on your journey, and at local level we tailor our support to the needs of the local business community," he added.
