Why is Ireland an attractive destination for talent?
In recent years, Ireland has emerged as a popular destination for people seeking job opportunities and a higher standard of living. Tax incentives system that favors companies' profits and offers big tech corporations' access to the European market has turned Ireland into a big player in the battle for talent.
Jobs outlook for Ireland. Source: Y-AXIS.
According to the OECD Better Life Index, Ireland performs well in many dimensions of well-being relative to other countries. Ireland outperforms the average in jobs, education, health, social connections, safety, and life satisfaction.
In terms of employment, Ireland's job market is thriving, with approximately 68% of people aged 15 to 64 having a paid job, which is above the OECD employment average of 66%. The country also has a relatively low percentage of employees working very long hours in paid work, standing at 5%, which is below the OECD average of 10%.
Ireland Employment from 2014 to 2024. Source: Statista.
Education is a crucial factor for finding a job, and in this aspect, Ireland is also doing well. Around 85% of adults aged 25-64 in Ireland have completed upper secondary education, which is higher than the OECD average of 79%. This shows that the country has a highly educated workforce, making it an attractive destination for businesses looking to hire skilled workers.
Despite these advantages, Ireland is not the only country competing to attract global talent. There are several other countries worldwide that offer similar opportunities and advantages, making it necessary for Ireland to continue to develop and improve its policies and programs to remain competitive.
For the purposes of this article, we have conducted research to find out the top 5 countries that are losing talent to Ireland. The findings are based mainly on data accessed with LinkedIn Talent Insights, a tool that aggregates data of more than 800 million professionals worldwide.
Top 5 countries exporting talent to Ireland
India
India is the most significant source of talent with more than 5.000 professionals moving to Ireland in the last 12 months, as per LinkedIn talent data. The Bengaluru region is by far the one exporting most talent to Ireland, followed by Mumbai and the Delhi Area.
Ireland’s Best Job Opportunities. Source: Jobs Blog
It is worth noting that a great deal of people in India are educated in fields such as ICT, big pharma, finance, healthcare, and education, which are also significant sectors in Ireland's economy.
Irish government's initiatives to attract global talent, with accessible work permit sponsorships, have made Ireland an increasingly attractive destination for professionals seeking career advancement and a better quality of life.
England
Ireland has seen a significant influx of talent from London, with 1,868 people making the move. There are several potential reasons for this trend. One possible explanation is that following the UK's decision to leave the European Union, some English people may have chosen to move to Ireland to maintain their EU citizenship and access to the benefits that come with it.
Moreover, London is known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, and the costs of living can be a significant financial burden for many people. By contrast, Ireland may offer a more affordable standard of living, with lower housing costs and a generally lower cost of living.
Brazil
After India and England, professionals from Brazil come third in the list of countries losing talent to Ireland. Sao Paolo is by far the region exporting most of the talent from Brazil with almost 1500 professionals crossing the Atlantic in the last year to join companies in Ireland. Other notable regions are Campinas and Rio de Janeiro.
Brazilians have been migrating to Ireland for decades, and as explain by the Terrain Analytics platform, one of the main reasons for this trend is the ease of obtaining a work permit. While other countries, such as the United States, have a lengthy and complicated visa process for Brazilians looking to work there, Ireland only requires a work permit, which can take as little as a month.
For those with critical skills, such as software engineers, the process is even easier, as they only need a job offer and minimal documentation to obtain a critical skills work permit.
These factors have made Ireland an increasingly attractive destination for talent from Brazil seeking employment opportunities and a better quality of life.
Ukraine
According to LinkedIn Talent Insights, since last year, the number of Ukrainian professionals in the Irish workforce has risen by 1060 professionals. It is important to note that the data collected from LinkedIn Talent Insights compares the present year to the last year. This surge in numbers is therefore likely due to the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine.
The war has caused many Ukranians to seek refuge and work elsewhere, mainly in Europe. Source: Prosperity Recruitment & LTI
Furthermore, Ireland ceased to require visas from Ukrainian citizens in 2022, making it more accessible. This demonstrates the significant impact that recent world events have had on immigration patterns and the Irish workforce.
United Arab Emirates
In recent years, Ireland has been gaining talent from the UAE. In the last year alone, according to data from LinkedIn, Ireland has gained nearly a thousand people from the country. According to the Gulf Business, there are several reasons for that. Firstly, there are close ties between the UAE and Ireland, with many companies from the UAE investing in Ireland and vice versa.
This has created opportunities for people from the UAE to work in Irish companies or for Irish companies to establish a presence in the UAE. Moreover, as Ireland is strategically located within the European Union, it provides access to a market of over 500 million people. For companies from the UAE looking to expand their businesses into Europe, Ireland can serve as a gateway to the continent.
Conclusion
England, India, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine are the top countries losing talent to Ireland in total numbers. The reasons for this trend vary, with factors such as job opportunities, quality of life, and ease of obtaining work permits playing significant roles.
In addition to the top 5 countries mentioned earlier, Ireland also attracts talent from other countries, including Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Overall, Ireland's appeal as a destination for global talent can be attributed to several factors, including a stable economy, low unemployment rate, high quality of life, and welcoming environment. The government's efforts to attract foreign talent through initiatives such as the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme have most certainly played a significant role in making Ireland an attractive destination for professionals seeking career opportunities and a better quality of life.
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