Ireland is going through a sustained period of economic growth. As a result, unemployment levels in the country are near all-time lows. There is plenty of demand for skilled works throughout the country. While the economy may slow down in the future, there are many key industries that will still need top-quality talent to be on board.
The Irish economy
The economy in Ireland is thriving, with solid levels of economic growth, having successfully recovered from the Great Recession by implementing austerity measures. Some of the key drivers of economic growth are in the pharmaceutical space, with nine of the top ten international pharmaceutical companies currently operating on the island. This makes up about half of all exports from the country. They also have a big emphasis on manufacturing of the likes of medical equipment, electronics and production of food.
Most promising fields for expatriates in Ireland
There are many promising fields in the country. A lot of tech companies have strong bases in Ireland, which is going to be a significant draw for a lot of expatriates. After experiencing a tough period for a few years, the construction industry has recovered. There are now a lot of new houses, offices and apartments being built. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals are always common industries that are looking for skilled workers from abroad.
The unemployment rate in Ireland
The national unemployment rate is currently around the 4.8% mark. This is near all-time lows. Between 1983 and 2019, the average unemployment rate in the country has been 10.73%. Therefore, there is a high level of employment in the country currently, which bodes well for expatriates seeking new opportunities.
The labour code in Ireland
Generally, workers in Ireland are well looked after. There are many strong trade unions which take care of the interests of their members. The labour code depends on what type of job you are doing.
For the majority of office jobs, there will be working hours between 9 am and 5:30 pm during the week. There will usually be an hour each day allocated for lunch, and most people in these jobs do not work on weekends. The average workweek is 39 hours and the max you are legally able to work in a week is 48 hours over the period of four months on average.
The standard annual leave allocation is four weeks. However, some companies will give more days off to their workers. This is in addition to the nine public holidays each year.
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