Working in Ireland: why relocating to the Emerald Isle could benefit you

Ireland is one of the easiest overseas relocations you can make for your career. It's a multicultural hotspot that welcomes thousands of expat workers to its economy every year. And by the end of this article, there's a good chance you'll be one of them!

Luke Edmunds, Robert Half’s Dublin branch manager, shares why emigrating to Ireland from the UK could be a fantastic career move and what Irish employers are looking for. He also reveals the benefits of moving to Ireland and how to begin the relocation process.

Career prospects

At the end of 2023, The Irish Times reported; a buoyant talent market caused by the economic slowdown. Demand for talent isn’t where it once was, but with a reported 90% of employers battling skills gaps in their teams, a highly skilled expat worker could expect interest.

Demand for talent is strong in the finance, healthcare, engineering, and IT sectors, and employers are searching for talent with IT skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology.

“Ireland offers lots of career opportunities for employees,” says Luke. “Many multi-national companies have been attracted to Ireland due to low corporation tax, and Brexit has meant that Ireland is well positioned as an English-speaking EU country, leading to a fruitful environment for employers and employees alike.”

Working in Ireland gives you access to some of the world’s largest brands, too. LinkedIn and Google have their headquarters in Ireland, along with other industry heavyweights like Siemens, Apple, PayPal, IBM, and Pfizer Europe. The options are endless.

Earning potential

As part of a European study, Euronews Business compared salaries for popular roles to determine the most competitive. Ireland came 5th for sales manager salaries (gross salary £114,533) and consistently outperformed the UK for salaries in all categories. This included project management, engineering, data analysis, and software developer roles.

“The volume of enterprise businesses in IE/Dublin means that organisations are paying good salaries compared to SMEs,” says Luke. “Large corporations such as Facebook and Google exist in Ireland, so the pay is far higher than small and medium-sized businesses. This also means SMEs need to be more competitive and usually offer better perks and benefits to attract and retain the right talent.”

Cost of living

A salary is only as good as the cost of living. Although Ireland is reported to be the 4th most expensive country in Western Europe, it’s still 29% cheaper than living in London. Ernst & Young predicts that 2024 is the year the Irish economy will bounce back, and inflation costs will start to come down.

The cost of monthly utilities (gas, heating, and electricity) is estimated at €230 for two people in an 85m2 flat, and a basic lunchtime meal in the business district could set you back €17. Housing is one of the most expensive aspects of immigrating to Ireland, especially in Dublin.

Although the cost of living in Ireland sits slightly higher compared to the rest of Europe, employers are likely to offer perks and incentives to help offset these costs. This can include housing grants, insurance, and money-saving perks like travel cards.

Quality of life

Ireland is a safe place to live and has consistently ranked among the top most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. In fact, in 2023, it was ranked the third most peaceful country in the world.

Ireland is more than a peaceful, safe place to live. It's also a stunningly beautiful part of the world, with breath-taking coastlines, verdant green valleys, and a colourful culture. You can spend your downtime exploring the famous Wild Atlantic Way, the six national parks and many castles, the world-famous surfing, and more besides.

Ireland also offers excellent work-life balance — not only is a clear divide between work and home life encouraged, but it's also a legal requirement under the newly introduced Work-Life Balance Act 2023.

Working in Ireland: what employers are looking for

The ongoing skills shortage in Ireland has left employers hungry for top talent. If you can demonstrate requisite technical or digital skills, you may come out on top in an interview.

The technology sector shows good growth for the start of 2024, especially where cybersecurity and data science are concerned. Employers in Ireland are also making good use of temp talent, especially in the tech, healthcare, and finance sectors.

Soft skills like flexibility, analytical skills, and excellent communication are as valuable in Ireland as in other parts of the world. As with many soft skills, it's better to show these skills than 'tell' them — use situational interview questions and achievements in your CV to give clear examples.

Can I move to Ireland from the UK? How to start your relocation

Citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) can emigrate to Ireland without any conditions or restrictions, but our local experts recommend doing your homework first. List all your current expenses and use benchmark figures to determine how much money you’d need to earn in a new role to afford your current lifestyle in Ireland.

Once you know how much you’ll need to earn, take some time to explore your relocation options — Dublin is incredible, but Galway, Cork, and other smaller counties deserve your consideration.

If you’ve created a budget and chosen a location, your next step is to get in touch with recruiters on the ground in Ireland. Our team of experts are based in Dublin and have great relationships with local employers. With their help, you can arrange remote interviews for the roles and locations you have in mind and potentially secure the job offer you need to make the move possible.

“Within tech and finance, we have specialist recruiters who can help facilitate job searches. We offer a personalised service to each individual. Robert Half IE is currently working with several clients that need top talent now,” says Luke.

Once you have a contract of employment and the relevant work permissions, you’re good to go. The Emerald Isle awaits!

Submit your CV to the Robert Half team in Dublin or contact the Robert Half Ireland team today for advice on making a career move to Ireland.