New figures from the CSO show that the net rate of job creation was at -6% in 2010.
The figures are part of the CSO's 'Job Churn' survey, which uses information from the Revenue Commissioners to determine the number of employees recorded as having worked at a company in a given year.
The job creation rate increased slightly from 9% in 2009 to 12% in 2010. The job destruction rate fell from 28% in 2009 to 18% in 2010.
This resulted in net job creation (job creation less job destruction) remaining negative at -6% in 2010.