Ireland’s economic migration policy provides the framework within which the State’s employment permit system is managed.
It is calibrated to encourage the meeting of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the European Union (as well as other EEA countries, the UK and Switzerland). Where this is not possible, it facilitates the hiring of non-EEA workers to fill labour and skills gaps while also mitigating any potential adverse effects.
The overarching objective for the State’s national economic migration and employment permit system is:
The state’s employment permit system should help meet, in the short to medium term, the demand for skills and labour in the Irish economy without disrupting the Irish labour market.
The State’s economic migration policy needs to keep pace with rapid labour market changes and be seen to be proactively identifying and addressing shortages as they arise. Standing still could be costly, as both foreign multi-nationals and indigenous enterprises experience skills and labour constraints.
Policy developments
The Economic Migration Policy Unit has an important role in examining and framing labour-market responsiveness within a broader context of workforce planning, future skills need, and policy across government. The unit undertakes evaluations and reviews of the employment permits framework, legislation and criteria applied to users of the system.
Input to this work incorporates projections from agencies such as SOLAS, research from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the European Labour Authority, stakeholder and cross government participation.
This framework provides a forward-looking analytical lens to ensure that the employment permit system supports economic resilience, productivity growth and long-term labour-force sustainability.
This strategic orientation is not intended to predetermine future policy decisions. Instead, it provides a structured context in which periodic updates ensure that short-term pressures are assessed alongside medium-term requirements.
Recent reports cover topics such as minimum annual remuneration, review of the occupations lists and the Seasonal Employment Permit. View our related publications.
The system is governed by the Employment Permits Act 2024 and regulations which provides the framework for granting employment permits to non-EEA nationals seeking to work in Ireland and outlines the criteria and procedures for employers to follow. The Employment Permits Act 2024 is part of Ireland’s wider employment rights framework aimed at ensuring the employment rights and protections of migrant workers.
Quick links
What's new (related press releases)
The occupations lists and reviews
Minimum annual remuneration