Skilled expat professionals are actively recruited to work in Ireland to address skills shortages in the local workforce.

European Union (EU) citizens are eligible to work without a work permit in Ireland and tend to have the least trouble finding employment opportunities. Non-EU citizens will usually need an Irish work permit.

Given some institutional difficulties associated with starting a business, almost all expats in Ireland work for an established employer, a start-up, or are transferred through one of the big corporations that are increasingly establishing offices in Ireland's major cities.

Job market in Ireland

It is seen as strategically useful for specific industries in Ireland to hire expats. Fortunately for foreign candidates looking to move to Ireland, these skills gaps cover various professions in numerous industries such as finance, IT, healthcare, construction management, medical research and, more recently, tech start-ups.

Dublin, specifically, has seen a recent surge of jobs and business opportunities for those with the desired qualifications and experience.

Some jobs in Ireland are not open to foreign workers without exceptional circumstances, such as administrative positions, domestic work, retail work, and various craftworkers, including electricians, builders and mechanics. 

Finding a job in Ireland

All professions in Ireland belong to an association and, depending on the type of organisation it is, the association may, in turn, regulate the profession. These associations can be a good starting point for expats looking for a job in Ireland. Other avenues include online job portals, social networks – LinkedIn proving particularly useful, adverts in local news publications and employment agencies. It's also worth browsing company websites for vacancies in an expat's field.

Work culture in Ireland

Expats working in Ireland will find that, while the Irish value their free time, they also pride themselves on being hard workers. Work usually starts at 9am and finishes at 5.30pm with a one-hour lunch break. The average work week is 39 hours, from Monday to Friday.