Like most countries, Ireland took a significant hit at the beginning of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, Central Bank estimated that over 100,000 people across the country will have permanently lost their jobs due to the coronavirus. This is a massive number. Even less reassuring is the volume of workers who will be looking to return to the workforce now that the global economy is beginning to right itself. This is why it is important that you know about the most in-demand jobs in Ireland in 2024.
According to studies conducted by a recruitment company in Ireland, 2021 saw a 25 per cent increase in job postings despite the pandemic still being felt around the world. And while many industries experienced significant losses over the past 18 months––the arts and recreation sector, hospitality and tourism, even banking––some were struck harder than others.
As many other residents of Ireland prepare to get back to work, you must know how to stand out above the crowd. And the best way to do this is to get an idea of the most in-demand jobs in Ireland. But before you dive into a job search, consider this: what skills are in high demand in Ireland? Once you have a solid understanding of which industry skills are on the rise, you will be much better prepared come interview time.
Check out our lists of the most in-demand skills and the most in-demand jobs in Ireland in 2024.
What Skills Are In High Demand in Ireland?
TOP 10: THE MOST IN-DEMAND SKILLS IN IRELAND IN 2024
1. Technology
Over the next few years, the growth in conversations around artificial intelligence and data is expected to reach new heights. People everywhere live in a digital world and the more often they are online, the more data they will create––interpreting that data, predicting user’s next moves (whether those habits relate to shopping, streaming video or reading news sources) is an entire industry. And those jobs will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.
Industries: Information Technology, Government, Marketing, Retail
Job titles: Computer Network Architect, IT Coordinator, Network Administrator
2. Construction
One of the few industries to thrive in Ireland during the 2020 pandemic was the trades business. Contracts in place for years prior meant that new builds, renovations and infrastructure improvements were carried out seamlessly (albeit delicately, given social distancing rules on work sites) in massive numbers. And, as the Irish continue to move forward during recovery, expect construction work skills to become an even hotter commodity in 2024 and beyond.
Industries: Trades, Business Development, City Planning, Architecture
Job titles: Site Foreman, Electrician, Architect, Interior Design
3. Accounting and Finance
Financial skills have always been in demand, and that need throughout Ireland and much of the UK is only expected to grow in 2024. Many of the world’s largest financial firms already have a dedicated presence in Ireland and given the damage to the global hub of business in London, more of these companies are likely to start consolidating operations, which is where smaller EU countries stand to benefit.
Industries: Finance, Compliance & Legal, Accounting, Business Planning
Job titles: Financial Analyst, Account Broker, Investment Advisor, Chartered Accountant
4. Creative Design
As many people continue to practise social distancing and remote work, there are fewer eyes in the street to notice out-of-house advertising signage (billboards, bus ads, experiential marketing). As such, many companies in Ireland are tailoring advertising work to digital and direct mail in the hopes of reaching all the online shoppers at home. And they need creative designers, copywriters and art directors to fill those quotas.
Industries: Advertising, Publishing, Education
Job titles: Art Director, Graphic Designer, Production Artist, Copywriter
5. Languages
Since Brexit, the need for diversifying export markets has grown. In the not-too-distant past, many companies, specifically smaller companies, in Ireland have failed to recognise the value of looking beyond the UK market. Fortunately, that tide is changing post-COVID and a demand for language skills, for Irish businesses to connect with non-English markets, has grown.
Industries: Legal, Marketing, Accounting, Education, Publishing
Job titles: Interpreter, Communications Specialist, Translators
6. Business Skills
While often compared to language skills, the ability to sell across international markets, as well as solid experience with logistics and supply chain management, are important skills that will surely be sought-after well into the decade. Unlike other industries, supply and demand increased during the pandemic. Knowing how to harness the power to communicate effectively from business to business is a vital skill set.
Industries: Retail, Wholesale, Government, e-Commerce
Job titles: Supply Chain manager, Sales Director, Acquisitions Manager
7. Web Development
New technologies are popping up every second, so it’s no wonder that web development skills are in high demand in Ireland. Learning programming languages is not only a modern skill but a versatile one, too; if you are proficient in writing HTML code, CSS and Java, you are already ahead of the competition.
Industries: Information Technology, Pharmaceutical, Finance, Creative Marketing,
Job titles: UX/UI Designer, SEO Specialist, HTML/CSS Writer, Content Management Specialist
8. Nursing
If we learned anything from 2020, it’s that nurses and medical professionals are not only heroes but they are also in desperate demand throughout Ireland. While the planet is still reeling from the effects of COVID-19, healthcare has taken a hard hit––one from which it will only recover with the right nursing professionals on hand. Post-COVID treatment for those still living with the disease will surely account for thousands of man-hours well into the next decade.
Industries: Private/Public Healthcare, Tourism, Education
Job titles: Intensive Care Nurse, Midwife, Nurse Practitioner, Hospital Administrator
9. Customer Service
When individual economies experience hard times, you can often expect rebounds to occur in the form of localised unification and in-spending; when the world economy falls on hard times, the natural rebound occurs in the areas of travel, retail, tourism and hospitality––all of which require dedicated customer service candidates at all levels.
Industries: Retail, Hospitality, Wholesale, Tourism
Job titles: Sales Associate/Manager, Travel Agent, Hotel Manager
10. Education
While many of Ireland’s primary and secondary school teachers experienced significant challenges with remote learning during the pandemic––challenges that are still being felt well into 2024––the demand for educators has not waned. In fact, becoming a tenured schoolteacher or professor in Ireland is still as competitive as pre-2020. However, given that remote learning is still the norm in many parts of the country, many parents have turned to private tutors and extra-curricular learning facilities to assist in their children’s education.
Industries: Government, Private Schooling, University Education
Job titles: Schoolteacher, University Professor, Freelance Tutor
What Are The Most In-Demand Jobs in Ireland?
TOP 20: THE MOST IN-DEMAND JOBS IN IRELAND IN 2024
1. Automation Engineer
Top companies hiring: West Pharmaceutical Services, Bonner, Viatris
Salary range: €50,000 – 60,000
Career prospects: In a rebounding global economy where money is the key element holding up innovation, and with many companies failing to keep up with the demands of ever-shifting consumer trends, automation professionals remain highly in demand in Ireland and throughout Europe. Expect to see considerable attention around this type of job through to 2025.
👉 Browse Automation Engineer Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
2. Sustainability Manager
Top companies hiring: KPMG Ireland, Deloitte, Grant Thornton
Salary range: €60,000 – 65,000
Career prospects: While the future is mostly uncertain, what we can be sure of is the pervading threat of global climate change. And addressing these environmental challenges will eventually lead to a solid infrastructure of jobs, like sustainability development and management roles.
👉 Browse Sustainability Manager Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
3. Data Scientist
Top companies hiring: Apple, ACI Worldwide, Fidelity Investments
Salary range: €60,000 – 65,000
Career prospects: Combining computer science, statistical modelling, encryption and math skills, data scientists uncover the answers to questions that help major organisations deliver objective decisions to their base. These high-paying jobs have consistently become one of the most in-demand professions––in Ireland and abroad.
👉 Browse Data Scientist Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
4. Compliance Officer
Top companies hiring: Chill Insurance, Link Group, Citi
Salary range: €40,000 – 50,000
Career prospects: Countless businesses across various industries employ compliance officers to ensure that organisational standards and practices are strictly maintained. And with an ever-growing base of consumers buying products, jobs like these are only expected to become more in-demand throughout Ireland and the world in 2024.
👉 Browse Compliance Officer Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
5. Software Engineer
Top companies hiring: Apple, Groupon, Inc., Smartbox,
Salary range: €45,000 – 55,000
Career prospects: There has been a strong and steady growth in demand for software engineers and architects in Ireland over the past five years, similar to the same need for junior programmers and technicians––both of which are typically viewed as precursors to the former. Software engineers with solid language skills are well-paid and typically feature flexible schedules and large opportunities for growth.
👉 Browse Software Engineer Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
6. e-Commerce Manager
Top companies hiring: Accenture, Lidl, Selfridges Group, Brown Thomas
Salary range: €50,000 – 55,000
Career prospects: As businesses and consumers continue to move towards online shopping, the need for e-commerce specialists, especially at the mid-senior level, remains high. Demand for those qualified candidates with retail and e-commerce skills is certain to continue post-pandemic.
👉 Browse E-Commerce Manager Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
7. Web Developer
Top companies hiring: Microsoft, Cubic Telecom, Intuition, Syncreon
Salary range: €50,000 – 60,000
Career prospects: Last year, the demand for web developer jobs in Ireland was so strong that applicants saw a marked increase in salaries compared to the year before. These types of roles with specialised technical skills are consistently valued and will likely continue to grow well into the decade.
👉 Browse Web Developer Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
8. Mortgage Underwriter
Top companies hiring: Finance Ireland, PayPal, Morgan McKinley
Salary range: €40,000 – 45,000
Career prospects: Ireland’s property market has experienced ebbs and flows throughout 2020’s pandemic, but in 2024, purchasing a home is still on the minds of many. Mortgage underwriters review and verify loan applications, analyse loan risk and determine eligibility before approving or rejecting applications. Candidates with strong financial and business assessment skills will remain in high demand.
👉 Browse Mortgage Underwriter Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
9. Construction Manager
Top companies hiring: Amazon EU, Jacobs, JLL, Mercury Engineering
Salary range: €45,000 – 50,000
Career prospects: The Irish government’s current Climate Action Plan, as well as Project Ireland 2040, along with other timely factors, will continue to be the forces behind an increased demand throughout the construction trade, resulting in a boom of jobs within various industries in 2024.
👉 Browse Construction Manager Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
10. Healthcare Assistant
Top companies hiring: Mowlam Healthcare, TTM Healthcare Recruitment, Optical Express, Silverstream
Salary range: €37,500 – 40,000
Career prospects: Becoming a medical professional is a strong vocation that requires extensive schooling and practice. And while the work is rewarding, it can present its unique challenges––like a global pandemic. Many hospitals around the country were short-staffed during 2020, and these factors have encouraged many government and privately run facilities to re-examine hiring policies and pay to avoid future understaffing issues. Becoming a dedicated healthcare assistant is a great entry into the medical field and one that will see growth into 2024.
👉 Browse Healthcare Assistant Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
11. Digital Marketing Specialist
Top companies hiring: Citrix, Fitbit, Hewlett Packard, Dentsu
Salary range: €55,000 – 65,000
Career prospects: Some of the world’s largest performance advertising companies witnessed double-digit growth in 2020, despite the poor global economy. As a result, this increase in activity resulted in a surge in performance marketing jobs. Specialist roles in SEO and content marketing have become a major factor in the creation of new digital jobs, and agencies in Ireland are recognising the need for talented marketers who can adapt.
👉 Browse Digital Marketing Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
12. Technical Writer
Top companies hiring: Johnson & Johnson, Amazon, Ericsson, Wix
Salary range: €35,000 – 45,000
Career prospects: There is always a high demand for writers, but those with specialised business abilities are even more sought after in Ireland. Technical writers are solid communicators responsible for sharing complex information among customers, designers, and manufacturers––a skill that is useful in many industries.
👉 Browse Technical Writer Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
13. Quality Assurance Specialist
Top companies hiring: IDG Direct, Morgan McKinley, Viatris
Salary range: €50,000 – 60,000
Career prospects: Simply put, a QA Specialist represents the final step of business production. They are responsible for ensuring that the final product meets a company’s standards of quality. While it may sound simple enough, only detail-oriented candidates tend to make the cut.
👉 Browse Financial Advisor Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
14. Lead Generation Agent
Top companies hiring: IDG Direct, Fiontar Group, Manpower UK
Salary range: €30,000 – 35,000
Career prospects: Despite the ever-evolving nature of the sales industry, a traditional lead generator still plays a key role throughout the selling process, identifying potential customers and turning them over to sales agents to close the deal. In 2024, these roles are heavily sought after due to the continual growth of consumerism.
👉 Browse Lead Generation Agent Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
15. Digital Content Creator
Top companies hiring: Pinterest, Patreon, Havas Group, Strategyzer, Accenture
Salary range: €25,000 – 30,000
Career prospects: With more people stuck at home in 2020, content creators took to social media in unprecedented numbers to try to engage with users. Content creators are typically performers, editors and writers who have extensive SEO experience and just happen to be very sought after based on a particular point of interest. Whether you are creating shoppable videos on TikTok and YouTube, posting valuable live streams on Instagram, or hosting your own podcast, if you can attract an audience and encourage them to engage with you, you can make good money.
👉 Browse Digital Content Creator Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
16. UX/UI Designer
Top companies hiring: IBM, Accenture, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard
Salary range: €70,000 – 80,000
Career prospects: Another technical job that has witnessed a surge in demand over the past ten years, UX/UI Designers operate across multiple disciplines and industries, commanding large salaries due to the significance of their specialised work skills. Best of all, the skills are entirely teachable and can be honed by junior developers looking to move up the ladder in 2024.
👉 Browse UX/UI Designer Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
17. Financial Advisor
Top companies hiring: Aviva, Grant Thornton, Amazon EU, Campion Insurance
Salary range: €35,000 – 45,000
Career prospects: Brexit is one of the factors affecting Ireland’s financial sector, as many global institutions have been moving their EU headquarters to Dublin from the UK. Financial institutions like these are seeking candidates with number-crunching skills who can fill in the market gaps for their existing clients––and advisory roles are some of the most popular.
👉 Browse Financial Advisor Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
18. Pharmacy Technician
Top companies hiring: Adrian Dunne Pharmacy, Hickey’s Pharmacy, TCP Homecare
Salary range: €30,000 – 40,000
Career prospects: A highly important role in an equally important industry, pharmacy technicians in Ireland are in high demand––likely due to the increased strain on healthcare worldwide. Strong knowledge of national and local laws and regulations is important; as are organization and archiving skills.
👉 Browse Pharmacy Technician Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
19. Personal Support Worker
Top companies hiring: Praxis, Nua Healthcare, St. Patrick’s University Hospital
Salary range: €50,000 – 60,000
Career prospects: Given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on much of the world’s collective psyche, it’s no wonder that support professions specialising in mental health have been on the rise in the past year.
👉 Browse Personal Support Worker Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
20. Freelance Tutor
Top companies hiring: UpWork, VICTVS, SchoolDays.ie, HomeTutors.ie
Salary range: €35,000 – 40,000
Career prospects: The versatility of pursuing a freelance career in specialised tutoring is that you can carve out your own flexible schedule––work remotely as often as you want, when you want. And if your chosen clientele consists mainly of primary and secondary school-level pupils, you can also look forward to having a lighter workload during the summer months.
👉 Browse Freelance Tutor Jobs in Ireland on GrabJobs
The Most In-Demand Jobs in Ireland in 2024
There you have it! The most in-demand jobs in Ireland in 2024. In an ever-changing global market, with the ongoing threats of climate change, global warming, new pandemics and other unpredictable elements, the demand for jobs can fluctuate. Some jobs––good, well-paying, life-changing jobs––can even be rendered obsolete in 5 – 10 years thanks to innovative new technologies. In short, there is a number of factors that can change the way you work. However, as the above article highlights, there is almost always a silver lining to such setbacks, provided you maintain a versatile skillset and consistently work on education and training to help yourself grow. Every year, the list of in-demand jobs changes. Be ready, and you’re sure to succeed.
