Ireland: Employment Permit Ineligible Occupations List Amended

The main changes include:

• Most construction sector jobs are now eligible for a General Employment Permit, including electricians, roofers, masons, plumbers, carpenters, among others;
• The quota for heavy goods vehicle drivers’ employment permits has been removed;
• Hospitality managers were removed from the ineligible occupations list for General Employment Permits and granted 350 quota spots;
• Social workers are now eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permit;
• Dispensing opticians are now eligible for General Employment Permit; and
• Additional quotas were added for existing eligible roles in horticulture, and the meat and dairy industries.

Ireland regularly reviews ineligible and critical occupation lists, seeking stakeholder feedback, to ensure that these lists continue to accurately represent local labour market conditions and contextual factors such as skills shortages and other impacts. The purpose of the system is to maximise the benefits of economic migration while minimising the risk of disrupting the Irish labour market.

The removal of occupations from the ineligible occupations lists and increase in quota spots for certain professions will open the door for companies to hire more foreign workers in Ireland to counteract the skills and supply shortage issues in the country.

The Irish government will continue its regular bi-annual reviews of these lists, which has become particularly important in the context of its response to the economic impacts of COVID-19. We will report on related developments.