Over a third of the population of Ireland lives in Dublin. Despite Ireland being a relatively small country in Europe, it is still one of the leading destinations for large multinational companies. This is largely down to their highly skilled and educated workforce, and their favourably low corporation tax rate. Today, about 36% of the total employment in Ireland is in Dublin, spanning a wide variety of sectors. Dublin is a thriving global hub in areas such as technology and financial services. The capital city's growing international population makes it a popular destination for expats, as there are lots of job opportunities up for grabs.
The Dublin economy
The Dublin city region plays a pivotal role in the Irish economy, and in recent years has become a model of global economic development. Dublin is the economic powerhouse driving Ireland's competitiveness abroad. The city is home to the top 5 global software companies and 9 of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies. Dublin is a major contributor to the overall economy in Ireland. Almost half of the country's Gross Domestic Product comes from Dublin, according to the Dublin Chamber. In addition, there is a large concentration of well-educated people in the city.
Almost 60% of international students who come to the country study in Dublin, and 35% of the adult population in the city has a higher education degree of some kind. Unemployment levels are very low, and the city has the highest average salary in the country, at around €55,000. The latest Dublin Economic Monitor (2025) paints a picture of an economy holding steady in the face of global uncertainty. Dublin's labour market remains a cornerstone, with record employment levels, falling unemployment, and firms continuing to add to their workforce.
Being the capital city, there are many career opportunities available in the public sector and government. Professionals in Dublin's IT sector earn the highest average salary at €69,050, followed by roles in construction (€63,502), finance (€63,165), and engineering (€59,808), according to research by recruitment portal IrishJobs.ie. The technology sector is rapidly growing, and there are many multinational tech companies with their European headquarters in Dublin, including Google, Facebook, Salesforce, and Amazon.
Popular job sectors in Dublin
In recent years, there has been significant growth in the number of tech companies in Ireland. Many large tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Airbnb have their European operations based in Dublin and the surrounding areas. As a result, there has been a large increase in demand for IT professionals.
One region in particular in Dublin that is known for its tech companies is the Docklands, an ICT cluster where leading web companies such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and PayPal have located their European headquarters. This area has been dubbed the 'Silicon Docks'. Nine out of the ten largest ICT companies in the world now have a presence in the Silicon Docks. It's no wonder that Dublin has been dubbed the Silicon Valley of Europe.
Business and finance companies are a major source of employment, with many global accountancy firms having a significant presence in Dublin. Banking is one of the most lucrative sectors, with many banking giants transferring their operations over to Dublin from London post-Brexit. In fact, Dublin has seen the biggest number of firms relocating since Brexit. And as sectors like fintech, biotechnology, and AI continue to grow, there is an increasing demand for specialised skills in Ireland's capital city.
Average salaries in Dublin
The average salary for some of the most popular jobs in Dublin are:
- Overall Average: €55,000
- Software Engineer: €65,000
- Software Developer: €65,000
- Senior Software Engineer: €77,000
- Operations Manager: €63,000
- Staff Nurse: €57,000
- Office Administrator: €37,500
- Senior Fund Accountant: €46,000
- QA Analyst: €41,500
- Civil Engineer: €54,000
- Newly Qualified Solicitor: €75,000
- Teacher: €46,000
Good to know:
The current unemployment rate in Dublin is 4.9%
Sectors with particular shortages
Talent shortages are at record highs in Dublin at the moment. Many employers report difficulty in finding skilled candidates, an issue experienced across all sectors. There are a number of sectors in Dublin, in particular, looking to fill shortages of skilled workers, including healthcare, hospitality, construction, and IT.
There is a constant demand for professionals with IT skills in cybersecurity, AI, infrastructure, networking, utilisation of big data, IT support, and cloud computing.
The construction sector in Dublin is booming as there is a big push to increase the limited supply of housing, which means that there is a lot more work for those in the trade, including skilled carpenters, labourers, plumbers, quality surveyors, and electricians. In-demand engineering skills include electrical and civil engineering.
In the science field, there is a demand for microbiologists, QC analysts, formulation scientists, and development chemists.
There is a constant demand in the business and finance sector for those in fintech, risk, data analytics, asset investment, and international banking.
In the healthcare sector, staffing shortages have led to extended patient wait times in Dublin hospitals. Doctors, radiographers, nurses, and those who specialise in niche areas of medicine are in high demand.
A strong level of demand always exists for those who are in sales and marketing. In the hospitality sector, many organisations have started paying higher salaries to attract skilled hospitality and tourism workers.
The demand for skilled workers in Dublin is constant, and it looks set to stay that way going into the future. Living and working in Dublin offers expats the opportunity to grow their career while enjoying a rich cultural experience.
The Dubs are known for having a great work-life balance, and in a city like Dublin, there is no shortage of culture, art, music, and folklore to enjoy on your days off. While the capital city 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 in Dublin offer in-person, remote, hybrid, and flexible roles, which can make all the difference.
How to find a job in Dublin
When looking for jobs in Dublin, 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. Some people will tailor their approach to each job by writing a customised cover letter to go along with their CV.
There are a few different ways to go about finding a job in Ireland. If you have any contacts in Ireland, 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. Otherwise, there are a number of different job websites that you can check to see what is on offer. See the useful links below.
There are also lots of recruitment agencies in Dublin that will take some of the heavy lifting off your shoulders by matching you with your ideal job. 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.
There are regular career fairs in Dublin where companies go to advertise new job opportunities. This gives you a good insight into what they are looking for, and you can network with others in your sector. Other places that will have jobs advertised include newspapers, social media, and local notice boards. 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.
Useful links:
Preparing for a job interview
It is important that you prepare properly and do your homework before a job interview. The interview process will depend on what industry the job is in, but generally, there will be a face-to-face conversation with a couple of people from the company, discussing your experience, your knowledge of the job and company, and your strengths and weaknesses. 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. It is a good idea to dress smartly and make a good first impression. Some job interviews will involve rounds of testing, including case study written assignments.
The work culture in Dublin
Remote working
Remote working has been one of the most influential economic changes in Ireland. Working from home has become a new norm for many workers in the city. In fact, Ireland has the highest take-up of hybrid working in the EU, with Dublin having the highest concentration of professionals working from home.
Dress code
Every sector will be different when it comes to dress code at work. For the most part, businesses within the same industry generally have the same dress code as one another. For those working in accounting and finance roles, business attire is required as you will often be at meetings and interacting with clients.
Some business positions and most IT jobs will be a bit more laid-back with a smart casual approach. It is always a good idea to err on the side of caution when you are starting a new job or when you go for an interview. You should dress conservatively and smartly, rather than casually, if you want to leave a good first impression.
Over time, you can then see what the dress code is in your company, and tailor your approach going forward.
Relationships
Generally, the work culture in Irish companies will be friendly as Irish people are known to be sociable people, and very welcoming to their new colleagues. Usually, coworkers will go out to lunch together or eat together in the break room or canteen. They will also chat during coffee breaks and regularly have after-work drinks together, with Thursday being a popular day for the city's professionals to go out for a few drinks after work.
Some companies encourage employees to have close working relationships and participate in regular events and team bonding exercises, whereas others are more of a clock-in and clock-out type of job.
Working hours
Working hours will vary from one company to another. Generally, people working at Irish companies are hardworking and will put in long hours when they need to, from Monday to Friday. Occasionally, they may even work on a Saturday if it is a busy time of year.
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 workweek is 39 hours, and the maximum you are legally allowed to work in a week is 48 hours.
Hierarchy
While there is an easy-going approach in most companies, there is still a hierarchy that needs to be maintained. Therefore, it is important that you do not step on the toes of those who are your seniors.
Meetings
One of the main gripes people have about working in Dublin is the lengthy meetings.
These generally stretch on and on, with the agenda often getting thrown out the window within a matter of minutes.
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