Ireland has announced a series of updates to its employment permits system aimed at helping key industries respond to ongoing skills and labour shortages.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, along with Minister of State Alan Dillon, confirmed 32 changes to the occupations eligible for employment permits following a review that began in summer 2025. The changes focus on sectors facing significant staffing pressures, including construction, healthcare, transport, and agri-food.
Key Changes to Ireland’s Employment Permit System
The Government has confirmed several updates to the occupations lists used in the employment permits system. These changes include new roles being added to the Critical Skills Occupations List, additional occupations becoming eligible for General Employment Permits, and renewed quotas for roles already experiencing labour shortages.
| Category | Number of Changes |
| Roles recommended for Critical Skills Employment Permits | 6 |
| Roles recommended for General Employment Permits without quota | 9 |
| Roles recommended for General Employment Permits under new quotas | 2 |
| Existing General Employment Permit quotas renewed | 15 |
New Roles Added to the Critical Skills Occupations List
Six occupations are recommended to become eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permits. These roles are considered highly skilled and in strong demand across Ireland.
The newly added occupations include:
- Agronomist
- Construction Planner/Scheduler
- Community Eye Care
- Intellectual Property Professionals
- Geospatial Surveyor, also known as Land Surveyor or Geomatics Surveyor
- Riggers within the Games Industry
These additions are designed to help employers recruit skilled professionals from outside the European Economic Area when suitable workers are not available locally.
Occupations Now Eligible for General Employment Permits
Nine occupations are being removed from the Ineligible Occupations List, making them eligible for General Employment Permits.
These include:
- Pharmaceutical Technicians, healthcare specific
- Dental Hygienists
- Plastic Lining Technicians
- Steel Fixers
- Fencing Operators/Erectors
- Curtain Wallers
- Printers
- Industrial Machine Knitters
- Concrete Pump Operators
This change gives employers in these areas more flexibility to recruit non-EEA workers where genuine labour shortages exist.
New and Renewed Employment Permit Quotas
Two occupations will become eligible for General Employment Permits under newly established quotas:
| New Quota Occupations |
| Fish Filleters |
| Seafood Operatives |
A further 15 existing quotas have been renewed for roles across hospitality, transport, care, agriculture, and food production.
Furthermore, the renewed quota roles include hotel and accommodation managers, restaurant and catering managers, publicans, catering and bar managers, support workers, vehicle mechanics, butchers, home support services, dairy farm assistants, horticulture operatives, and other key roles.
Review of the 50:50 Rule
The Government has also approved preparations to amend the Employment Permits Act 2024 in relation to the 50:50 rule.
Under this rule, employers must generally ensure that at least 50% of their workforce are Irish, UK, EEA, or Swiss nationals. The rule is intended to protect local employment and support the principle of Union Preference.
However, the Government has recognised that the health and social care sector is facing specific challenges in meeting this requirement. Greater flexibility may be introduced for healthcare assistants working in nursing homes, disability care, and homecare services.
This proposed change is intended to support continuity of patient care and help Ireland respond to rising demand for long-term care services.
Why the Employment Permits System Matters
Ireland’s employment permits system is designed to support the recruitment of workers from outside the EEA only where skills or labour needs cannot be met through the Irish or wider European workforce.
The system plays an important role in addressing skills gaps, but it is not intended to replace investment in training, upskilling, and lifelong learning for workers already living in Ireland.
How Occupations Are Classified
For employment permit purposes, occupations generally fall into three categories:
1- Critical Skills Occupations
These are highly skilled professional roles in areas where Ireland has strong demand and limited local availability. They are eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permits.
2- Ineligible Occupations
These are occupations where there is evidence that enough Irish or EEA workers are available. Employment permits are generally not granted for these roles.
3- General Employment Permit Occupations
Most other jobs may be eligible for a General Employment Permit if an employer cannot find a suitable worker locally. In many cases, employers must first complete a Labour Market Needs Test before applying.
Public Consultation and Review Process
The latest review of Ireland’s occupations lists included a public consultation process and input from labour market experts, government departments, and industry stakeholders.
The review considered whether genuine shortages exist, whether Irish and EEA workers are available, and whether permit changes would support national education, employment, and economic development policies.