Ireland hires record numbers of non-EU workers but loses four in ten fast
A new ESRI report finds Ireland issued 30,000 to 40,000 employment permits a year since 2022, yet 40% of Critical Skills permit holders leave within two years. Housing costs and unrecognised qualifications are key reasons.
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Ireland has never depended so much on workers from outside the European Economic Area. A report published today by the ESRI for the European Migration Network Ireland shows that between 30,000 and 40,000 employment permits were issued or renewed to non-EEA workers in each of the last four years. The permits cover jobs that employers could not fill from Ireland or the EEA, mainly in health, social care, construction and ICT.
The scale is growing. A total of 8,328 companies recruited non-EEA workers in 2025. Just 20 firms accounted for about 10 per cent of the more than 31,000 permits issued that year, with Google at the top of a list that also included professional services and health companies.
The retention problem
The report's sharpest finding concerns who stays. Of workers on a Critical Skills Permit, 40 per cent leave Ireland within two years. That compares with 21 per cent of General Employment Permit holders. After five years the gap narrows but stays wide, at 60 per cent versus 50 per cent. The report suggests holders with graduate-level education are more likely to remain.
The reasons are familiar to anyone who has moved for work. The ESRI points to the shortage of affordable housing as a main factor discouraging workers from staying. It also notes that non-EU qualifications often go unrecognised, which pushes skilled people to leave for markets where their credentials count.
The report adds a darker note. NGOs and trade unions reported a high rate of exploitation, mainly among General Employment Permit holders. The most common cases involved unpaid wages, inadequate accommodation and excessive working hours.
Where the workers come from
Indian nationals took the largest share of permits at 32 per cent, followed by Brazilian and Filipino nationals at 11 per cent each. Health and social care accounted for the largest sectoral share of permits in 2025, at 26 per cent. The pattern has been stable for several years.
Why it matters
For employers, the message is that recruiting abroad solves only half the problem. The ESRI warns that skills shortages could hamper Ireland's plans for housing, infrastructure and healthcare. If four in ten critical skills hires leave within two years, firms pay recruitment costs repeatedly for the same roles. Report co-author Ada Sophia Hahn said the strong uptake of permits shows the growing importance of non-EEA workers in meeting labour demand and that a fair and effective permit system matters to employers and workers alike.
For workers weighing a move to Ireland, the numbers are a reality check. A Critical Skills Permit can be a fast route in, but the odds of lasting beyond two years are mixed. Before signing, candidates should check how their qualification will be recognised, and budget for housing costs that push many peers to move on.
What to watch next
Expect pressure on government to act on two fronts, recognition of foreign qualifications and housing supply. Permit numbers are also worth tracking. If issuance stays near 40,000 a year while retention stays low, the churn will keep the market tight for employers and unpredictable for job seekers.
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