Ireland is going through a sustained period of economic growth. As a result, unemployment levels in the country are near all-time lows. There are many multinational companies with their European bases in Ireland, which means that there are jobs in a variety of different sectors. The process of finding a job is pretty straightforward and will be similar to that in a lot of other countries.
The most promising fields for expats in Ireland
Ireland's economy is thriving, with solid levels of economic growth. The country boasts a low unemployment rate, a young workforce, and strong export performance, making it a major player in global markets. There are a number of industries that are always looking for skilled workers. The demand is constant, and it looks set to stay that way going into the future.
Many multinational tech companies have based their European operations in Ireland, which is going to be a significant draw for a lot of expatriates. Nine of the top ten international pharmaceutical companies currently operate on the island. This makes up about half of all exports from the country. Pharmaceuticals are big business in Ireland, and these companies are constantly expanding their staff base.
Other promising fields in Ireland include finance, IT, construction, and healthcare. The Emerald Isle has also successfully established a global reputation in manufacturing of medical equipment, electronics, and food production.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has a Critical Skills Occupation List, for skilled workers who are qualified in professions where there is a shortage of skills in Ireland.
How to look for a job in Ireland
There are a few different places to go about finding a job in Ireland.
Word of mouth
Naturally, if you have any contacts in the country, this can be an easy way to get your foot in the door if they have or know about any job vacancies in your field of expertise.
Online resources
Otherwise, there are many job websites that you can check to see what is on offer. Below are some of the most popular:
Recruitment agencies
There are also plenty of recruitment agencies working across Ireland, which will take some of the heavy lifting off your shoulders. This allows you to focus instead on preparing for interviews, as your recruitment consultant will find suitable employment opportunities according to your profile. Recruitment agencies often fill jobs not publicly advertised or have relationships with HR managers, which can also give you a very helpful leg up. Some of the most popular recruitment agencies include Sigmar Recruitment, Hays Recruitment, Morgan McKinley and FRS Recruitment.
Career fairs
There are regular career fairs taking place in Ireland where companies go to advertise new job opportunities. This gives you a good insight into what they are looking for, and you can meet other employees in the flesh before committing to anything.
Other platforms
Other places that will have jobs advertised will include newspapers, social media, and local notice boards. As mentioned above, word of mouth is another powerful tool to find out about job vacancies. An updated LinkedIn with keywords that recruiters will look for can also get you noticed before you even apply for a job.
The job application process in Ireland
When you are looking for jobs in Ireland, you will need to have an up-to-date CV or resume. This needs to be properly formatted and contain vital info such as your full name, contact info, history of employment, your qualifications, training, key skills, and some of your interests. Generally a two page CV is more than sufficient to show your experience, expertise and skill set to date. Some people will tailor their approach to each job by writing a unique cover letter to go along with their CV.
To tailor your CV, you should include your most relevant experience, keywords for the job ad, and some of your accomplishments (with numbers when possible). Also, personalise your cover letter to introduce yourself, highlight your relevant skills and experience, and explain why you are a good fit for the role being advertised.
Preparing for a job interview in Ireland
Once you have your CV/resumé up-to-date and you have successfully secured some job interviews, then you will need to prepare for the challenge ahead.
The interview process will depend on what industry the job is in, but generally, there will be a face-to-face with a couple of people from the company. They will talk to you about the role and ask you questions to see if you would be a good fit. It's important to do your homework before the job interview. To prepare for this part of the interview, research the company, particularly their operations in Ireland if they are a multinational company. Make sure you have researched the company's website before the interview. And look them up online to see if there is any recent news on job announcements, new product launches or expansion.
You should know the different duties of the role and be prepared to showcase why you would be a good fit to carry out these tasks to a high standard. The STAR technique is widely recognised as a good interview tool – Specific Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Have examples prepared against the requirements of the role description.
Often, there will be some type of assessment as part of the interview process. This could be a questionnaire or a case study on which you will have to answer some questions. This will ensure that you are competent in the given areas that will be important for the job. You will be able to find a variety of sample tests for your respective industry online if this is the case.
Online job interviews
Online job interviews in Ireland are common since the shift to remote working post-pandemic, and they are usually conducted via video conferencing tools like Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. Interviewing remotely opens up the talent pool for different countries and locations, which is always great news for expats. Additionally, many roles are now advertised on a remote basis.
There is very little difference between a face-to-face interview and one done online, meaning the same preparation is required. Just like with in-person interviews, preparation for online interviews is key – including a technology check. Also, it's important to look at your background and ensure there is nothing distracting there for the interviewer. You should ensure your face is in the middle of the screen. Make a trial call with a friend or family member to test things out beforehand.
Choose a quiet room, put your phone on silent, and notify others in close proximity that they should not disturb you. If possible, log in to the call a few minutes before it's due to start to make sure that everything's working at your end.
Finding a job in Ireland from abroad
If you are looking for a job in Ireland and you are living abroad, then you will have plenty of opportunities to choose from. Employment levels are near all-time highs, and there is always room in the job market for those from outside of Ireland. While there may be some restrictions in place for those people who are not living in a European Economic Area (EEA) country, there are still opportunities to be availed of.
There are different circumstances and criteria depending on the situation at hand. If you are an EEA citizen, you can work in Ireland without any restrictions.
The search process for finding a job in Ireland, if you are in one of these countries, will include looking at job boards and sites, as well as seeing if your current employer has an office in Ireland. You can also use recruitment agencies.
For those who are not citizens of an EEA country, there will be a requirement to get permission to work in Ireland. Certain types of employment are on offer, and there are minimum salaries that you need to reach in order to obtain permission. Once these criteria have been met, you can apply for jobs. If you receive a job offer, you can then look at starting the application process for a work permit.
The Labour Code in Ireland
Generally, workers in Ireland are well looked after. There are many strong trade unions that take care of the interests of their members. The labour code depends on the type of job you are doing.
For the majority of office jobs, working hours are generally between 9 am and 5:30 pm Monday to Friday. There will usually be an hour each day allocated for lunch, and most people in these jobs do not work on weekends. The average work week is 39 hours, and the maximum you are legally able to work in a week is 48 hours.
There is no legal right to pay for working extra hours and there are no statutory levels of overtime pay in Ireland. However, many employers pay employees higher rates of pay for overtime.
You should check your contract of employment for confirmation on:
- Whether you must work overtime.
- The rates of pay for overtime (if any).
Certain sectors of employment have higher rates of pay for overtime than for normal hours. This is covered by Employment Regulation Orders and Registered Employment Agreements.
Parental leave lets parents take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after their children. You can take up to 26 weeks' parental leave for each eligible child before their 12th birthday. Generally, you must have been working for your employer for a year before you are entitled to parental leave.
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 ten public holidays each year, which were increased from 9 in 2022.
Employees in Ireland are entitled to a minimum of 5 days of paid sick leave per year, paid at a rate of 70% of their normal pay, up to a daily maximum of €110. This is known as Statutory Sick Pay.
Salaries in Ireland
Salaries in Ireland are generally above the European average, but it really depends on what industry you are working in, your experience, location, and cost of living. A ‘good' salary in Ireland generally ranges from €50,000–€70,000 per year, though Dublin salaries are higher to reflect the higher living costs. The average annual salary is around €45,000, but this varies significantly by sector and region, with Dublin offering higher salaries than other cities like Galway or Cork.
The unemployment rate in Ireland
The national unemployment rate is steady at 4%. This is near all-time lows. Between 1983 and 2019, the average unemployment rate in the country was 10.73%. Therefore, there is a high level of employment in the country currently, which bodes well for expatriates seeking new opportunities in the Emerald Isle.
What's it like to work in Ireland
Living and working in Ireland offers expats the opportunity to grow their career while enjoying a rich cultural experience. The Irish are known for having a great work-life balance, and in cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway, there is no shortage of culture, art, music and folklore to enjoy on your days off. While the capital city Dublin is known to be relatively expensive, the cost of living is still a lot cheaper than other major European cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris and Zurich. Employers offer in-person, remote, hybrid, and flexible roles, which can make all the difference.
Useful resources for building your career in Ireland
Meetup groups for your industry
Industry associations
LinkedIn groups, posts, communities
Facebook groups like Jobs in Ireland, Expats in Ireland, and Jobs in Dublin
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
