Working in Dublin

In recent years, Dublin has become quite the player in the international economy. Along with its strategic location and easy access to the EU, a number of other aspects have made Dublin an attractive business destination, including business tax incentives and a friendly commercial environment. As a result, not only have international businesses sprung up all over Dublin, but many expats have followed their employers to postings on the Emerald Isle.

In general, expats report a happy and increasingly vibrant work environment, but also surprisingly competitive.

Job market in Dublin

Expats working in construction-related industries should think twice before heading to Ireland. Jobs for architects, conveyancers, building contractors and lawyers working in property law are thin on the ground.

Anyone hoping to get work in the state sector will also have great difficulty. With the hiring freeze placed on state departments such as health and education ending in 2015, competition for places is high and expats in these fields may have trouble finding work.

However, Dublin’s IT sector is particularly strong and some of the world's most prominent tech companies – such as Microsoft, Google, Dell and Amazon –  have regional headquarters in the city. The financial sector is also an important industry in Dublin and one of the biggest employers of expats. 

Most expats working in Dublin are transferred within their company and many of these work in the IT sector. Expats in Dublin are likely to find the city's work ethic and business culture similar to that of many British and American companies. 

Finding a job in Dublin

Expats looking to work in Ireland’s capital will have to do their homework. The job market in Dublin is tough, and expats will need perseverance and optimism when searching for job prospects. 

Before moving to the Emerald Isle, expats will need to research and line up a job. The most promising sectors are IT, accounting and the pharmaceutical industry.

Most expats moving to Dublin first find work through contacts already in the country. Given its size, finding work in Ireland is much easier with the help of local contacts. If expats don't have any such contacts, we recommend using online portals and social networks such as LinkedIn, or perusing company websites within a particular industry for vacancies.

Work culture in Dublin

The Irish can be obsessive when it comes to working. Although individuals and industry norms differ, long hours from Monday to Friday and working the occasional Saturday are common.

Offices are seen by the Irish to be quite informal, but expats should be prepared for long meetings and a strict hierarchy. Work attire, especially in industries such as finance and engineering, is generally formal. 

As mentioned, those expats from a Western background will have little trouble adapting to Irish work culture, and there won't be any forms of culture shock in store.