Ireland employment permits reforms add new eligible occupations and quotas to address labour shortages across key sectors

Ireland has announced sweeping reforms to its employment permit system, introducing 32 changes aimed at attracting more international workers and addressing persistent labour shortages across critical sectors including construction, healthcare, transport and agri-food.

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The reforms were confirmed by Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, following a comprehensive review of occupation lists that began in the summer of 2025.

According to the government, the updated framework is designed to help employers recruit overseas talent where domestic skills shortages continue to affect productivity, housing delivery, healthcare services and infrastructure projects.

Under the revised system, six occupations have been added to the Critical Skills Employment Permit list, while nine additional roles are now eligible for General Employment Permits without quota restrictions.

Authorities also introduced quota limits for two occupations and renewed quotas covering 15 existing roles.

Burke said the changes take immediate effect and are intended to strengthen the flexibility of Ireland’s labour market while maintaining safeguards such as minimum salary thresholds, quota controls and standard employment conditions.

“The additions to the Critical Skills Occupations List will support the sourcing of highly skilled international workers across construction, infrastructure, intellectual property and healthcare sectors,” Burke said.

Among the notable additions are Construction Planner/Scheduler and Geospatial Surveyor, both viewed as important to Ireland’s housing and infrastructure ambitions under the National Development Plan.

The reforms also expand access to General Employment Permits for several construction-related occupations, including plastic lining technicians, steel fixers, fencing operators and erectors, curtain wallers and concrete pump operators.

In another significant move, the government approved amendments to the Employment Permits Act 2024 relating to the so-called “50:50 rule,” which requires employers to ensure that at least half of their workforce are UK or European Economic Area nationals.

Officials said the review was prompted by workforce pressures in healthcare and social care services, particularly in nursing homes, disability support facilities and homecare operations.

Minister of State for Retail, Small Businesses and Employment, Alan Dillon, described the reforms as a balanced response to evolving labour market demands.

“These changes will promote a whole-of-government, integrated approach to driving responsive economic migration policy and addressing labour and skills shortages as they arise,” Dillon said.

Dillon added that quota systems would remain in place for lower-skilled occupations to ensure international recruitment complements, rather than replaces, domestic training and apprenticeship programmes.

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The latest Ireland Employment Permits reforms are expected to provide employers with greater certainty in workforce planning while supporting long-term economic growth and labour market sustainability.