Ireland's labour market is part of a much greater EEA labour market which affords a considerable supply of skilled workers.
The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of the economy, while simultaneously protecting the balance of the labour market.
The system is vacancy led and managed through the occupations lists of eligible and ineligible roles, namely the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL). As demand grows or recedes, the orientation of economic migration is adjusted accordingly, through changes to these lists of critically skilled and ineligible occupations.
Review of occupations lists
An occupation may be considered for inclusion on the Critical Skills Occupation List or removal from the Ineligible List provided that:
- shortage exists across the occupation, despite attempts by industry to train and there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work
- development opportunities for Irish/EEA nationals are not undermined
- genuine skills shortage exists and that it is not a recruitment or retention problem
- the government education, training, employment and economic development policies are supported
The review process utilises research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and other experts in the labour market, including the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) at SOLAS. It also involves input from other government departments and the Inter-Departmental Group on Economic Migration.
Information on reviews of the occupations lists and how to participate in future reviews can be accessed below:
Report of the occupations lists review 2025
Report of the occupations lists review 2023
Register your interest in future occupations lists reviews
Related links
Expert Group on Future Skills Needs
Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) at SOLAS