Demand for work permits has soared by 25% in past year

Changes in the work permits system have been welcomed by employers, as Colm Hilliard of Work Permits Ireland explains

Construction companies in Ireland this year sought work permits for people coming African countries like South Africa and Uganda, among others. The changes to Ireland's work permit processes have been welcomed by many employers. Photo: iStock

Work Permits Ireland, the specialised immigration company working for clients from across the globe wishing to apply for Irish employment permits, have seen up to a 25% increase in demand for their services over the last 12 months.

“Certainly we have seen an increase of up to 25% above what we had in 2023,” explains Colm Hilliard, director, Work Permits Ireland. “Our increased figures for this year correspond roughly with those of the Government, and indicate the overall increased activity.” 

 In order to work in Ireland, a non-European Economic Area (EEA) national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit. Between January and October, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment issued a total of 33,105 work permits across all economic sectors, with 2,946 of that figure granted last month.

Health and social work is the sector with the highest number of permits (10,645) followed by information and communication activities (5,639) and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Work Permits Ireland is a working partner of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation, the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Construction Industry Federation and the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland.

“We have engaged on a regular basis with the main organisations such as the Irish Hotels Federation, attending their forum meetings and answering queries on employment of non-European nationals and advising on getting their due diligence. All of these sectors have been busier in 2024, which is why Work Permits Ireland are busier dealing with the demand for our services.” 

Colm Hilliard, director of Workpermits.ie, says Ireland in a strong position to address skills shortages in the country thanks to the Government's decision to expand work permit eligibility across selected skills categories.

Amongst the variety of nationalities coming to work in Ireland, Mr Hilliard has noted a growing number of applicants from new countries.

“In terms of construction, we have seen people coming from African countries like South Africa and Uganda. In the hospitality sector, we would assist people from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines — many of whom would come here through countries like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, working in major chains like Hilton or Marriott where the training they receive puts them on an international market.” 

 In agriculture, South Africa would again account for a high percentage, helped by their experience driving heavy machinery on the same side of the road as Ireland, and speaking English.

“The dairy farm assistants are primarily coming from the Philippines with many going through agricultural college training over there, and would already have worked for farms there.” 

 Work Permits Ireland has also seen an increase of veterinary surgeons coming here from North America.

“All applicants have to prove they have relevant experience to satisfy the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment that they are trained in their respective areas,” said Mr Hilliard.

“For example, in the hospitality and restaurant sectors, people coming here might have begun as janitors or kitchen porters, then moving into training courses at big chains to eventually move up the chain to qualify in positions such as chef de partie or commis chefs. The criteria is that they must show at least two years of relevant experience, and proving that with reference letters from previous employers.” 

Permit process is more streamlined and efficient  

Work Permits Ireland also represents clients in the financial, Information Technology, manufacturing, processing, consultancy, relocation facilities and the film industries.

Ireland’s position as the only predominantly English-speaking country within Europe, as well as quicker work permit application turnarounds, is enhancing the country’s ability to attract workers from abroad to fill staff vacancies across a wide range of sectors. The process of getting a work permit issued has improved considerably in recent years, he points out.

“In general, the time span involved has improved, you are looking at five or six weeks now, which is certainly much better than it used to be. Online applications and generally more efficient communications have helped significantly, and the fact that we have seen an increase of 25% dealt with efficiently does indicate that the Department is very much on top of the situation.” 

While a large proportion of their clients are in the hospitality and construction sectors, Work Permits Ireland have also dealt with increasing numbers of high-end company directors for the bigger entities, and similar numbers in the Information Technology space.

Financial and insurance activities are other sectors experiencing increases, in addition to mining and quarrying, as well as the areas of electricity, gas and high powered cabling.

“We are the only English speaking country within Europe, which is added to by a very good employment environment and history. While our overall population has increased in recent years, Ireland is very attractive to outside workers in being seen in their eyes as not at all overpopulated.”

New Employment Act is positive for economic migration 

 From September 2nd, 2024, the new Employment Permits Act 2024 has come into force in Ireland, consolidating and modernising several aspects of employment permits law.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has stated that the “new law represents the biggest reform of employment permits legislation in over a decade and will result in many positive changes to Ireland’s economic migration policy.” 

 The new legislation will: enable employment permit holders to change their permit to a new employer after nine months rather than 12, with a more streamlined process; allow permit holders to be promoted within their roles without the need for a new permit.

It will introduce changes to the Labour Market Needs Test requirements to facilitate online advertisements of roles; and introduce a Seasonal Employment Permit aimed at supporting seasonal needs of certain sectors — a short-term employment permit providing the ability to work for a maximum of seven months per calendar year in a seasonally recurrent employment. 

Edel McGinley welcomed the change to the permit system changes, when the planned changes were announced last summer. At the time, she was director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. She has since taken up a new role as executive director with Hope and Courage Collective,  supporting communities and civil society to counter the far right and the spread of hate and disinformation. 

“The right to change employer for work permit holders is a major victory for thousands of people across Ireland who provide vital care for older people, build our roads and houses, drive our buses and pick, process and cook our food on a daily basis,” said Edel McGinley. “The work permit system has for too long tied a person to one employer and as a result they were easily taken advantage of. In our experience restricting a person to one employer has been the biggest factor leading to the cases of gross exploitation of migrant workers that we come across.”

 Figures from the Central Statistics Office showed that immigration to Ireland has reached a 17-year high, with 149,200 people arriving in the country in the 12 months to April.

According to the CSO, 30,000 were returning Irish citizens, 27,000 were other EU citizens and 5,400 were UK citizens. The remaining 86,800 immigrants were citizens of other countries. The number of immigrants to the State in the year is estimated by the CSO to have grown by just over 5% to 149,200 from 141,600 when compared with 2023.