Changes to Ireland's economy laid bare in country's first census

The 1926 records provide a comprehensive insight into life in the early days of the Irish Free State. The look back through time was revealed yesterday by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which has produced Then And Now: Life in Ireland in 1926 and 2022, to highlight the statistical trends across almost 100 years of the State.

Almost a century ago, the 26 counties’ population was just under three million compared to more than five million in 2022, despite massive waves of emigration since.

More than 1.3 million people were at work in 1926 compared with 2.3million in 2022.

CSO statistician Ciara Hayes, who analyzed the 1926 Census, said: “The Irish workforce has changed significantly, as 100 years ago we were a smaller, more rural country.

“In 1926, 74% of those in employment were men, whereas today the split is more even, with men accounting for 53% and women 47%.

“We know that Ireland was primarily an agrarian society, with more than half – 51% – of those in employment working on the land compared with just 4% in 2022.”

How the workforce has changed so dramatically is evidenced by the number of servants a century ago.

Back in 1926, almost 91,000 people were employed in domestic service, with the vast majority – 87,500 – of them women.

The chapter on Occupations stands out for its ability to show how much our working life has changed in that time, and many occupations have simply disappeared.

Hayes said: “Given how we relied on coal and peat for home heating, there was work for 211 chimney sweeps, of whom only one was female, and just over 1,000 coopers (cask and barrel makers).

“Another reflection of changing trends in employment and fashion was the 1,385 milliners, 826 embroiderers, and 336 hand lace workers in 1926.”

The growth of Ireland into a financial services hub is also revealed.

Fellow statistician Maria Yasin, who worked on the modern-day comparison in the report, said: “In financial services, there were only 382 chartered accountants recorded in 1926, whereas in 2022 there were more than 43,000 chartered and certified accountants, over 15,000 business and financial project management professionals, and a further 13,000 finance and investment analysts and advisers.”

In 1926, the health sector was far smaller – there were 2,051 medical doctors, 491 midwives, 5,341 sick nurses, and 536 dentists.

By comparison, Census 2022 shows there were 62,483 nurses and midwives, 17,953 medical practitioners, 2,330 dental practitioners, 5,056 medical and dental technicians, 37,843 nursing auxiliaries and assistants, 1,699 paramedics, 6,033 pharmacists, 2,975 psychologists, and 4,069 therapy professionals.

Transport has changed significantly over the century since 1926, too.

Hayes said: “Before the motor car took over, the State relied on 10,852 horse vehicle drivers, 1,441 saddlers and 1,399 grooms to keep the country moving.”

Elsewhere, the number involved in the fishing industry has more than halved over the century. In 2022, 2,569 people were recorded as working in fishing compared with 5,753 in 1926.

* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.