A GLOBAL CLOUD COMPUTING firm is to create 250 new jobs in Cork through a major expansion of its operations there.

VMware is to expand its operations in Ballincollig over the next three years, adding to its operations which already employ 550.

The company’s technical support facility opened in 2005, and expanded in 2007 when it hired another 370 staff.

VMware said it was expanding its Irish facilities to support the “increasing demand for its virtualisation and cloud technologies across the globe”.

VMware’s country manager Ian Moore said the new office was “a result of the dedication our existing Irish employees have already shown”.

“Developing our Cork operations means we have more scope for creating new jobs for enthusiastic and energetic people with a wide range of skill sets.”

Jobs minister Richard Bruton, who attended the announcement, said the jobs were “great news for Cork and shows that we are on the right track”.

“However we must do more, and I have a plan for a series of measures across a range of sectors, including cloud computing, to hit ambitious targets and get people back to work.”

Recruitment for the positions is already underway.

The news came as the CSO released new data confirming the Irish unemployment rate averaged at 14.3 per cent for the second quarter of 2011 – up by 0.7 per cent on the same time from last year.