Ireland Issued Nearly 19,000 Employment Permits in Just Six Months
Ireland Issued Nearly 19,000 Employment Permits in Just Six Months
But that’s not the most interesting part.
When Ireland released its H1 2026 Employment Permit Statistics, most people focused on one number:
19,044 Employment Permits issued.
At first glance, that looks like the biggest takeaway.
But after analysing the official statistics alongside the legislative changes introduced this year, comparing them with H1 2025, and examining the broader labour market, we believe the most important story lies elsewhere.
The data reveals important shifts in where Ireland is hiring, which sectors are growing, how employer demand is changing, and what these trends mean for employers and international professionals.
Here are the key insights from our analysis.
1. The Employment Permit Market Has Recovered
If there is one word that best describes the first half of 2026, it is recovery.
Ireland issued 19,044 Employment Permits between January and June 2026, representing a 26.5% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Just one year earlier, the market had experienced a significant slowdown, with Employment Permits falling by 22% compared with H1 2024. The latest figures show that this decline has largely been reversed, confirming that employer demand for international talent remains strong despite a changing regulatory landscape.
This is particularly significant because the increase occurred during a period of important policy reforms, including new salary thresholds and updates to Ireland’s Employment Permit Occupations Lists.
2 – Why Did the Market Slow Down Before Recovering?
Looking at the monthly figures, the market followed an interesting pattern.
Following a strong January, Employment Permit numbers softened during February and March before recovering steadily from April onwards. June eventually became the strongest month of the semester.
While there is no evidence of a direct causal relationship, the timing closely aligns with one of the year’s most important policy changes: the introduction of new minimum salary thresholds on 1 March 2026.
Higher salary requirements naturally increase recruitment costs for employers sponsoring non-EEA workers. Many organisations likely paused recruitment temporarily while reviewing budgets, salary structures and workforce planning.
Another important development arrived on 28 May, when the Irish Government expanded the list of occupations eligible for Employment Permits.
- 6 occupations added to the Critical Skills Occupations List;
- 9 occupations becoming newly eligible for General Employment Permits;
- 2 new quota-based occupations;
- Renewal of quotas across several existing occupations.
These changes broadened access to the Employment Permit system and reflected changing labour market needs.
While most Employment Permits issued during June were likely applications already progressing through the system before the announcement, the updated Occupations Lists may have strengthened employer confidence and encouraged additional recruitment planning.
The full impact of these changes is therefore expected to become more visible during the second half of 2026.
3. Healthcare Continues to Lead, but the Story Is Bigger Than That
Healthcare once again dominated Ireland’s Employment Permit system, accounting for more than 5,100 permits during the first half of the year.
Demand remains exceptionally strong for nurses, healthcare assistants, care workers, and other medical professionals. However, this comes as no surprise, as healthcare has consistently been the leading sector for employment permits in recent years.
One notable trend emerging from the 2026 data is that labour shortages are no longer concentrated within healthcare and technology.
Traditional industries such as agriculture, food production, construction, manufacturing, and transport continue to recruit significant numbers of international workers.
This aligns closely with the Government’s 2025 Review of the Occupations Lists, which concluded that labour shortages across many sectors are structural rather than temporary, driven by demographic change, persistent skills shortages, and ongoing difficulties attracting enough domestic workers.
4. The Biggest Shift Isn’t in the Numbers. It’s in the Employers.
For many years, Ireland’s Employment Permit system was strongly associated with multinational technology companies.
The H1 2026 statistics tell a different story.
Among the ten largest Employment Permit sponsors:
- 5 operate within healthcare;
- 3 are involved in food processing and meat production;
- 1 is a multinational technology company;
- 1 operates in technical services.
Demand for international workers is increasingly concentrated in sectors delivering essential goods and services, rather than solely within the technology industry.
This trend is consistent with the Government’s review of the Occupations Lists, which renewed quotas for occupations such as meat processor operatives, butchers, dairy farm assistants, horticulture workers and care workers, recognising that shortages in these sectors remain persistent.
5. Brazil Received Nearly 50% More Employment Permits…
…But Another Number Caught Our Attention.
For the Brazilian community, the statistics contain both encouraging news and an important reminder.
Employment Permits issued to Brazilian nationals increased from 1,636 in H1 2025 to 2,447 in H1 2026, an impressive 49.6% increase.
Brazil now ranks as the third-largest nationality receiving Employment Permits in Ireland.
However, another figure deserves attention.
Brazil also recorded the second-highest number of refused applications, despite receiving less than half the number of permits issued to Indian nationals.
This does not mean that Brazilian applicants have a higher refusal rate, as the Department does not publish the total number of applications submitted by nationality.
However, the data indicates that Brazilian applicants account for a comparatively large share of refused applications among the leading nationalities.
Possible contributing factors include:
- Applications for occupations that are not eligible;
- Salary offers below the required thresholds;
- Employer non-compliance;
- Documentation deficiencies;
- Misunderstanding of Employment Permit eligibility requirements.
For both employers and applicants, these figures reinforce the importance of carrying out a detailed eligibility assessment before submitting an application.
Final Conclusions
In this article, we combined the official H1 2026 Employment Permit statistics with our analysis of labour market trends, recent legislative changes, and comparisons with previous years to identify the key developments shaping Ireland’s Employment Permit landscape.
Our analysis highlights several important conclusions.
- The first half of 2026 confirms that Ireland’s Employment Permit system remains a critical pillar of the country’s labour market. Despite the introduction of higher salary thresholds in March, international recruitment continued at a strong pace, with permit numbers increasing by more than 26% compared with the same period in 2025.
- While healthcare continues to dominate the Employment Permit system, the data shows that employer demand for international talent is now extending across a much broader range of industries. The profile of Ireland’s largest Employment Permit sponsors, together with the Government’s 2025 Review of the Occupations Lists, suggests that labour shortages are increasingly structural and affect many essential sectors beyond healthcare and technology.
- The figures also reinforce Dublin’s position as Ireland’s primary employment hub, accounting for approximately 44% of all Employment Permits issued during the first half of the year.
- For employers, these findings highlight the importance of long-term workforce planning and ongoing compliance with Employment Permit requirements.
- For international professionals, the message is equally clear: Ireland continues to offer significant employment opportunities across a diverse range of industries, not only in technology but increasingly in healthcare, engineering, construction, manufacturing, food production, and other essential sectors.
Looking ahead, the second half of 2026 will be particularly important. The recent expansion of eligible occupations, together with persistent labour shortages across key industries, may continue to support strong international recruitment. Whether permit numbers maintain their current momentum will depend on employer demand, economic conditions, and the practical impact of the Government’s recent policy changes. The H2 2026 statistics will provide a clearer picture of how these reforms are shaping Ireland’s labour market.
Knowledge is most valuable when it’s shared. If you believe these insights can help employers, HR professionals or international workers, feel free to share this article with your network.
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