Attracting Highly Qualified and Qualified Third-Country Nationals: Ireland

Emma Quinn and Egle Gusciute

No BKMNEXT240 in Research Series from Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

Abstract: This study, compiled according to commonly agreed specifications, discusses the policies and practical measures designed to attract highly qualified and qualified third-country nationals to Ireland. Despite the current recession in Ireland, the demand for certain specific, niche skills exceeds supply available within the EEA labour market. As a result Ireland has aimed to attract key talent from non-EEA countries to fill skills shortages in specific sectors such as IT, engineering, finance and healthcare. The current study shows that the Irish national policies have been effective in weighting the balance of third-country labour migration towards skilled and highly skilled workers. Eurostat data show that in 2012, the proportion of third-country nationals in employment in Ireland, who were employed in high-skilled occupations, was 46 per cent, third highest among 20 EU countries for which data are available. However certain challenges exist to attracting qualified and highly qualified workers. Ireland has not exercised its opt-in to several EU Directives which could help attract third-country nationals (notably the Long-term Residence and Family Reunification Directives). Sector-specific challenges exist, particularly in healthcare. Ireland's current economic recession is also likely to deter highly qualified workers: research shows that the recession affected immigrants more severely, while there is also some evidence of attitudes towards foreign workers hardening in recent years.

Keywords: Ireland/Policy/recession/skills/labour; market/migration/data/employment/immigrants/agency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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