Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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According to the latest employment figures from the CSO’s Labour Force Survey, published on 22nd February 2024, total employment stood at 2.71 million. There are now more people employed in Ireland than ever before. As per the CSO Statistical Release on Monthly Unemployment from early April, the seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was 4.3% in March 2024.

It is essential that Irish enterprise has access to an adequate pool of high quality, adaptable and flexible talent – in particular in the context of a tightened labour market. In order to meet the demand for skills, there is close collaboration across Government, in particular between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, its agencies and my own Department, as well as between Government, industry, and the education and training system, in order to build and retain a highly skilled workforce to serve the needs of the economy.

My Department is also working closely with the Department of Social Protection in implementing Pathways to Work, the national employment strategy, and with it the labour market activation of the unemployed, groups underrepresented in the workforce, and workers transitioning to more viable roles or sectors across the economy. A mid-term review of the actions and commitments in the Pathways to Work strategy took place in 2023, to ensure they remain relevant and effective in improving the employment prospects and outcomes for people under-represented in the labour market. The Minister for Social Protection will shortly submit the mid-term review and an updated strategy of commitments for consideration by Government.

The Government also operates an employment permits system which is highly responsive to areas of identified skills needs and labour shortages across the economy. The system is, by design, vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market. The employment permits system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit.

In December 2023, following extensive engagement with industry representatives and stakeholders on the nature and extent of skills shortages, my Department announced a very major expansion to the employment permits system, with 43 changes to the jobs eligible for an employment permit. This included 11 roles added to the Critical Skills Occupations List and 32 roles made eligible for a General Employment Permit. A roadmap for increasing salary thresholds was also announced. Demand for employment permits in Ireland is currently extremely high, with just over 30,000 permits issued in 2023 and 9,832 issued in Q1 2024, providing another valuable stream of skilled labour for the Irish economy.

The Government also operates an employment permits system which is highly responsive to areas of identified skills needs and labour shortages across the economy. The system is, by design, vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market. The employment permits system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit.

In December 2023, following extensive engagement with industry representatives and stakeholders on the nature and extent of skills shortages, my Department announced a very major expansion to the employment permits system, with 43 changes to the jobs eligible for an employment permit. This included 11 roles added to the Critical Skills Occupations List and 32 roles made eligible for a General Employment Permit. A roadmap for increasing salary thresholds was also announced. Demand for employment permits in Ireland is currently extremely high, with just over 30,000 permits issued in 2023 and 9,832 issued in Q1 2024, providing another valuable stream of skilled labour for the Irish economy.