23rd July 2025 |
Open Consultations
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is undertaking a review of the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL) to ensure the employment permits system continues to reflect the needs of Ireland’s labour market. We invite employers, industry bodies, permit users, government departments, agencies and other stakeholders to take part in this public consultation.
Your insights and evidence will directly inform whether certain occupations remain on, are added to, or are removed from these lists.
What this consultation covers
We are seeking feedback on:
- occupations that may be experiencing genuine skills or labour shortages
- occupations where sufficient Irish/EEA labour now exists
- occupations currently subject to quotas and whether those quotas should be adjusted or removed
- any challenges in recruitment or retention, and their effect on your organisation or sector
- impact of shortages on business continuity, expansion, or public policy goals
This consultation provides an opportunity to present evidence-based feedback on labour market needs, helping ensure that Ireland’s employment permits system is responsive, balanced and future-proofed.
How to make a submission
You can submit your observations via the online form linked below.
Access the form here: Review of the Occupations Lists Public Consultation 2025
All submissions must be received by 5pm on 19 September 2025.
If you have questions or require assistance, contact us at EMPU@enterprise.gov.ie.
Types of evidence you may submit
We welcome any documentation or insights that support your submission, such as:
- data on skills/labour shortages
- recruitment advertisements and outcomes
- evidence of training or upskilling efforts
- staff retention difficulties
- reports or surveys from your sector
- business plans affected by workforce constraints
- wage comparisons or working condition insights
- feedback on occupational quotas currently in place
Who will use this information
Your submission will be considered by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy, which includes representatives from key government departments, agencies and labour market experts. The review is also informed by research from:
- Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN)
- Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS
These insights ensure a coordinated, evidence-based review of economic migration policy.
Background to the employment permits system
Ireland’s employment permit system allows non-EEA nationals to fill skill and labour shortages where no suitably qualified Irish/EEA candidates are available. The system is designed to:
- support key sectors of the economy
- respond flexibly to labour market changes
- prioritise the development of the domestic and EEA workforce
The Employment Permits Act 2024 sets out the legal framework for granting permits, including:
- role eligibility and permit type
- Labour Market Needs Test (where required)
- salary thresholds and contract duration
- evidence of efforts to recruit within Ireland and the EEA
Understanding the occupational lists
The system operates through two occupations lists:
- Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL)
- eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit
- includes highly skilled roles experiencing shortages
- minimum salary: €38,000 (with degree) or €64,000 (experience-based)
- no Labour Market Needs Test required
- Ineligible Occupations List (IOL)
- includes roles for which sufficient Irish/EEA labour exists
- employment permits will not be granted for these roles
- roles not on either the CSOL or IOL
- eligible for the General Employment Permit
- subject to a Labour Market Needs Test
- some occupations may have quotas applied
Changes to the lists may be considered where:
- no suitable Irish/EEA workers are available
- industry has made efforts to train or recruit domestically
- a genuine skills shortage exists (not just poor recruitment conditions)
- public policy and development goals are not undermined
More information: The Occupations Lists and SOC System
Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Your data will be handled with strict confidentiality and in line with:
- Data Protection Acts 1988–2018
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Freedom of Information Act 2014
Please note:
- submissions may be shared with relevant government bodies
- the department may publish outcomes of the review
- if your submission contains commercially sensitive or personal data, please clearly mark it and explain why it should be withheld under FOI
For more details, view our Data Protection Privacy Notice.
Help shape Ireland’s future workforce
Your input is essential to ensure Ireland can meet its labour market needs while protecting opportunities for Irish and EEA workers.
Participating in this consultation helps ensure a balanced, forward-looking economic migration policy that supports both business growth and societal needs.
Topics:
Employment Permits