Preasráitis
Highest ever number of employment permits issued in 2024
Ó An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Ó An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
2024 was a record year for the employment permits service, with almost 45,000 employment permit applications received and 38,189 permits issued, representing an increase of 24% on 2023.
Minister of State with responsibility for Employment, Emer Higgins said:
"This rising demand for work permits is driven by an increase in economic activity against a backdrop of full 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 Activity helps supplement our workforce in areas of critical skills.
"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 health care assistants. These workers are vital to our health care service and they provide essential care to people at their time of need. Over 6,500 work permits were granted for professionals working in the ICT 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. 2024 was the first year that Dublin accounted for less than half of the permits issued pointing to more balanced regional growth."
In terms of nationalities, India (13,147), Brazil (4,458), Philippines (3,944), China (1,903) and Pakistan (1,690) were the top five nationalities issued employment permits.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has expanded the Occupations Lists for roles that are eligible for employment permits in response to business cases put forward by industry.
In total, over 32,480 new permits issued (with another 5,709 renewals). Over half (51%) of all new permits issued were 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, ICT professionals). The average salary for these critical skills roles was €58,746.
This year, in response to business cases put forward by industry, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment added an additional 43 roles to the Occupations Lists eligible for employment permits. In order to meet the increased demand for permits, our processing team was expanded and we will be modernising the application process to make it simpler, faster and more efficient. The Employment Permits Unit will replace its existing IT systems with a modern cloud-based system which will transform the way in which employment permits are submitted, processed and issued. The technical development work for the new system is almost completed with an anticipated go live date in Q1 2025. 2024 saw the introduction of new employment permits legislation which has consolidated and modernised employment permits law and introduced additional benefits for employers and permit holders alike.