The Government issued a record 38,189 employment permits this year, marking a 24 per cent increase on 2023, amid heightened demand for workers from nurses to tech sector staff in a tight labour market.
Indian nationals topped the list of workers to secure permits to work in the Republic, totalling 13,147, followed by individuals from Brazil (4,458), the Philippines (3,944), China (1,903) and Pakistan (1,690).
“This rising demand for work permits is driven by an increase in economic activity against a backdrop of full employment,” said Emer Higgins, Minister of State with responsibility for employment.
“With 2.7 million people in Ireland now at work, many industries are finding it difficult to recruit and retain staff in a tight labour market.” Hiring from outside of the European Economic Area, she added, “helps supplement our workforce in areas of critical skills”.
The Irish unemployment rate stood at 4.1 per cent in November, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Over 12,000 of the 38,189 permits issued were for people working in the health sector, including for the key roles of nurses and healthcare assistants, according to the new figures.
“These workers are vital to our healthcare service and they provide essential care to people at their time of need,” said Ms Higgins.
[ Republic could face ‘shortage of 62,000 healthcare assistants’ by 2036Opens in new window ]
“Over 6,500 work permits were granted for professionals working in the ICT (information and communications technology) sector, a thriving sector that supports employment opportunities and spin-off trade. In excess of 3,500 permits were granted for the agri sector, and almost 3,000 chefs received work permits this year.”
Some 5,709 of the permits issued in 2024 were renewals. Over half of the total 38,189 were so-called Critical Skills Employment Permits, for skilled workers who are qualified in professions where there is a shortage of skills in Ireland such as doctors, nurses, engineers and ICT professionals. The average salary for these critical skills roles was €58,746.
The Irish food industry, and in particular small businesses in the sector, tend to be most likely to hire migrants and fail to register them properly, so depriving them of workers’ rights, according to a report published earlier this month by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
While reliable data on the extent of “irregular employment” of non-EU nationals is limited, the ESRI report has said it occurs across “a range of sectors” in Ireland, particularly in “food service activity”, and mainly within small enterprises.
The food service activity sector accounted for 54 per cent of employment permit law breaches in 2023, with 12 per cent in hair and beauty, and 11 per cent in wholesale, the report said.
“Irregular employment presents problems for the State in terms of tax revenue and regulation, whether it is undertaken by Irish or non-Irish nationals,” the ESRI said.
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