Publication
Report on the Labour Market Impact of Health Care Assistant Employment Permits
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
This report summarises the findings of a strategic sectoral review of long-term care, following the issuance of employment permits for Health Care Assistant roles.
In June 2021, the occupation of ‘Health Care Assistant’ was removed from the ineligible occupation list within the following framework: (i) attainment of a relevant QQI Level 5 qualification after two years employment on a permit as a Health Care Assistant in the State; and (ii) a minimum remuneration threshold of salary of at least €27,000. As part of the announcement of this, a public commitment was made to review the changes to ensure the new framework meets the needs of the sector and to identify any issues arising. Work on this review began in 2023 with the below report being finalised this year.
The report describes the labour market impact of introducing employment permits for non-EEA Health Care Assistants (HCAs), focusing on nursing homes, hospitals and home care settings. It also sets out a labour market model predicting the supply and demand for HCAs to 2035 to help analyse different growth scenarios.
The report is extensively supported by survey data from workers and stakeholders in the sector, as well as interviews conducted with employers and the representative bodies of both employers and workers. As part of this review, a steering group was convened to support this engagement with the sector and provide input into the review.
The principal findings of the report indicate that:
- the growing unmet demand for HCAs and the relatively low share of permit-holding HCAs suggest that employment permits for non-EEA HCAs have not had a material impact on the labour market at current levels
- the report is supportive of the continued utilisation of employment permits for these roles as the shortfall of available workers is expected to rise in coming decades – principally driven by an aging population
- the report suggests that increases to minimum salaries might reduce the current shortage of labour supply, however fuller measures would be required to address the shortfall in the longer term
- the survey found that average hourly wages are higher in the public sector and challenges to recruitment and retention were related to pay, recognition of qualifications, work-life balance, family reunification and visa issues
