Ireland: issuance of record 38,189 Work Permits – Ireland Work Permit Statistics 2024

Last year was a landmark year for the Employment Permits Service, with nearly 45,000 applications received and 38,189 permits issued—a 24% increase compared to 2023 in Ireland.

According to data from the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, 38,189 work permits were granted to foreign workers last year, reflecting an approval rate of 91.8%. This means that thousands of individuals were allowed to work in Ireland.

However, not all applications were successful. A total of 2,456 applications (5.72%) were refused, while another 1,064 applications (2.48%) were withdrawn by applicants.

In response to industry needs, the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment expanded the Occupations Lists, adding 43 new eligible roles. Over 32,480 new permits were issued, with an additional 5,709 renewals.

Meeting Workforce Demands

Minister of State for Employment, Emer Higgins, highlighted the growing demand for work permits as a reflection of increased economic activity and Ireland’s near-full employment rate, with 2.7 million people now in work. She emphasized that hiring from outside the European Economic Area plays a crucial role in addressing skill shortages across various sectors.

Key Sectors Benefiting from Employment Permits

Just like the last many years, the healthcare and ICT sectors dominate this time as well. The overall occupations sectors for which most of the work permits were granted are as follows:

For the first time, Dublin accounted for less than half of all permits issued, signaling more balanced economic growth across the country.

Top Nationalities Receiving Employment Permits

In terms of the highest work permits awarded to nationalities, India, Philipines, and Pakistan have been among the top 10 every year. This year has been remarkable for them as well:

Critical Skills Employment Permits

• 51% of all new permits issued
• Covers in-demand professions (doctors, nurses, engineers, ICT professionals)
• Average salary: €58,746

Modernising the work permit system

To improve efficiency, the Employment Permits Unit is transitioning to a modern cloud-based IT system, set to go live in Q1 2025. This upgrade will streamline the application process, making it faster and more user-friendly.

Additionally, new employment permit legislation introduced in 2024 has modernized permit regulations, providing added benefits for both employers and permit holders.

You can access here the shortage occupations list for the critical employment work visa.

Job Portals

Following are some of the job portals in Ireland also suitable for foreign workers: