Residents » Work » Working In Ireland

On the back of the Celtic Tiger, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from both the EU and around the world have come to work in Dublin, adding strength and skills to the Irish economy. Ireland was one of the very few countries not to impose any restrictions on people from eastern European countries after the 2004 enlargement. Thus, many people from Poland and other ‘new’ EU member states have come to Dublin, working in various sectors and setting up businesses. Statistically, Ireland needs immigrants, as there are more jobs than people at the moment. If you can get over the frustrations of commuting in Dublin, working in the city is great. There are many professional jobs that offer interesting challenges and opportunities with great possibilities for advancing your career, while a big emphasis is placed on a work/life balance. Professional jobs offer plenty of holidays, sick and maternity leave and there are also nine public holidays or ‘bank holidays’ throughout the year.

International experience and the ability to speak several languages are highly regarded by employers. Please note that you need to speak English to get a decent job in Dublin. If you have a skill that is particularly specialised, employers will be all the more willing to negotiate and hire you.

In some ways, Dublin is like a small town, and in some sectors, getting the job you want depends on the people you know. So, when you first move to Dublin, stay open-minded – if you can’t get your dream job right away, try to get a similar or related job, network and make contacts, and these should help you to eventually snag your dream job.