Government Opens Consultation on Work Permit Occupation Lists
The Government has launched a public consultation to gather input from stakeholders on the current work permit occupation lists.
The Critical Skills Occupations List includes roles that are in high demand across Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA), covering sectors such as healthcare, information and communications technology (ICT), science, finance, and business.
In contrast, the Ineligible Occupations List identifies roles for which there is a sufficient supply of workers, and therefore, employment permits are not granted for these positions.
The last review, conducted in 2023, led to the addition of 11 roles to the Critical Skills Occupations List and made 32 roles eligible for the General Employment Permit.
As part of the latest review process, the Government is inviting submissions from employers, industry representatives, Government departments and agencies, and other interested parties. Feedback is particularly welcome on occupations currently included or missing from the lists.
“With over 2.81 million people at work and 90,000 new jobs created in the past year, Ireland is experiencing full employment. To maintain a competitive economy, we must ensure our employment permit system remains strong and adaptable—supporting the recruitment of non-EEA nationals to address skills and labour shortages,” said Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
He added, “The changes implemented over the past year demonstrate the system’s responsiveness to industry needs.”
Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Small Business, Retail and Employment, emphasized the importance of non-EEA workers in supporting the Irish economy.
“If employers are struggling to fill specific roles and believe these should qualify for employment permits—or be included on the Critical Skills list—this is the time to provide that feedback,” he said.
Submissions can be made through an online consultation form available on the Department of Enterprise website. The consultation will remain open until 19 September.