Ireland expands work permit to attract foreign workers

The Republic of Ireland has expanded its employment permit system to attract more international workers and fix ongoing staff shortages in key sectors, including construction, healthcare, transport, and agriculture.

The government confirmed 32 changes to the system following a thorough review of occupation lists that began in summer 2025.

Under the new rules, six jobs have been added to the Critical Skills Employment Permit list, and nine roles can now get General Employment Permits without any limits on numbers. Two jobs will face new quota limits, while 15 existing quotas have been renewed.

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The update aims to make it easier for companies to recruit overseas staff when they cannot find people with the right skills locally. This will help ease hiring pressures in areas critical to building homes, providing healthcare, developing infrastructure, and producing food.

Peter Burke, minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said:
“The changes take effect immediately and are designed to respond to persistent labour shortages across priority sectors while maintaining safeguards within the employment permit system.”

The government has also agreed to change the Employment Permits Act 2024 regarding the “50:50 rule,” which states that at least half of a company’s workforce must be UK or European Economic Area (EEA) citizens. This decision follows concerns about severe staffing pressures in health and social care.

Peter Burke explained that flexibility is highly important for healthcare assistants, nursing homes, disability care, and homecare services to make sure patients keep receiving the care they need.

Speaking on the reforms, Burke said: “I am delighted to announce these changes today to our employment permit system. These adjustments strengthen the agility and responsiveness of the system, while upholding safeguards such as minimum annual remuneration thresholds, quota management and standard permit terms and conditions.”

He also added that the additions to the Critical Skills Occupations List will support the sourcing of highly skilled international workers across construction, infrastructure, intellectual property and healthcare sectors.”

 

New roles in construction

Burke highlighted new roles in construction, such as Construction Planner/Scheduler and Geospatial Surveyor, saying they would support Ireland’s housing and infrastructure goals under the National Development Plan.

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He also confirmed that five more construction jobs: Plastic Lining Technicians, Steel Fixers, Fencing Operators/Erectors, Curtain Wallers, and Concrete Pump Operators, have joined the General Employment Permit system.

Alan Dillon, minister of state with Special Responsibility for Retail, Small Businesses and Employment, said the updates show a coordinated and balanced approach to the job market.

According to Dillon: “These changes will promote a whole-of-government, integrated approach to driving responsive economic migration policy and addressing labour and skills shortages as they arise.

He added that the government is supporting a balanced approach that addresses short-term labour shortages while reinforcing the State’s commitment to long-term domestic skills development.

He also noted that quotas would stay in place for lower-skilled jobs to ensure that immigration supports, rather than replaces, local training, apprenticeships, and upskilling programs.

The ministers said the updated system will give employers more certainty when planning their hiring, while keeping Ireland’s workforce plans sustainable for the future.