A new study has revealed the hardest-working counties in Ireland, with Laois taking first place.
The research, from leading business utility consultants Procure.ie, used the latest figures from Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO) to compare how far people travel to work, how long those journeys take, and how many people are unemployed in each county. These factors were combined to create a Hard-Working Index ranking every county in Ireland.
Laois came out on top, with an index score of 271.5, with residents travelling some of the longest distances to reach their workplaces and spending more time commuting than most other parts of the country. Combined with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Ireland, the results show a county defined by hard work and determination.
Meath placed second in the rankings with an index score of 266.6, supported by a strong jobs market and high numbers of daily commuters into Dublin.
Leitrim followed in third, performing strongly thanks to steady employment and an active local workforce.
Wicklow and Westmeath completed the top five, both showing long average journey times and consistent employment levels.
Top 10 Hardest Working Counties in Ireland:
- Laois – 271.5
- Meath – 266.6
- Leitrim – 249.0
- Wicklow – 244.2
- Westmeath – 243.9
- Roscommon – 243.8
- Offaly – 242.2
- Cavan – 240.9
- Kildare – 239.9
- Longford – 229.9
Simon Lawlor, Chief Operating Officer at Procure.ie commented on the research: “This research highlights the effort and commitment shown by people across Ireland every day.
"Counties like Laois and Meath stand out for their long commutes and strong employment levels, showing the dedication that keeps our economy moving.
“Behind that effort are businesses working just as hard to manage costs and support their teams.
"At Procure.ie, we help those businesses save on one of their biggest expenses, energy, so they can focus their resources on growth and their people.”
You can learn more about the research here on Procure.ie.