Ireland’s Thriving IT Sector – Europe’s Silicon Valley

Ireland has a thriving indigenous IT sector and is home to the second highest concentration of ICT multinationals in the world, outside of Silicon Valley.

Forty per cent of Ireland’s GDP – some €72bn per annum – comes from its technology sector, which employs more than 105,000 people. Since 2011, more than 15,000 jobs have been announced in the sector, making Ireland the go-to place to locate international Tech headquarters. According to the Government’s ICT Skills Action Plan 2014, Ireland is likely to face an average increase in demand for high-level ICT skills of around 5% a year out to 2018, with the employment of ICT professionals anticipated to rise to just over 91,000.

Ireland’s skilled, educated workforce and competitive corporation tax continues to attract foreign investment, with 9 out of the top 10 global ICT companies maintaining a presence in Ireland, and all of the top 5 software companies. This is accompanied by strong performances from our indigenous SMEs and an increasing number of innovative, well-funded Irish start-ups who are gaining recognition on a global level.

The Irish government are dedicated supporters of the Irish ICT sector.  They have created a number of initiatives to encourage and support new start-up activity such as schemes to relax visa requirements for non-EU citizens with in demand IT skills and have increased investment in research.  The Technology Centre in Data Analytics is a collaboration between DIT, UCD and UCC, and is part of the sustained effort to make Ireland top of the market.

IT employers in Ireland can recruit from a domestic talent pool of highly skilled, flexible candidates, with experience in leading global companies, and also, from a large number of mobile professionals from across the EU.  These candidates are actively looking to relocate, attracted by Ireland’s ‘IT Hub’ reputation. Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia’s entry to the EU has expanded the skilled talent pools accessible to Irish employers.