Ireland Market Opportunity
SHOULD YOU HIRE REMOTE WORKERS IN IRELAND?
If you’re building a remote team in Europe, Ireland keeps appearing in your research. Not just because it’s the obvious English-speaking EU choice, but because companies that hire here discover something unexpected: when quality matters more than cost alone, Ireland delivers.
We’re based in Ireland, so this isn’t just another country we cover—it’s our home market. Here’s what we’ve learned helping companies decide whether Ireland makes sense for them.
Why Global Companies Are Hiring Remote Talent in Ireland?
Ireland has the highest rate of tertiary education in the EU, with 63% of 25-34 year olds holding a third-level qualification in 2023, compared to the EU-27 average of 43%. This isn’t a happy accident—it’s a structural advantage that creates a consistently high-quality talent pool.
The Irish market in late 2025 presents a distinct opportunity. Ireland’s Information Technology sector is experiencing a resurgence in hiring confidence following consecutive quarters of stagnant recruitment, with the Net Employment Outlook increasing to +39%, marking the highest level of optimism since the post-pandemic hiring boom. Quality talent is available, and companies are competing for it.
Ireland hosts 16 of the top 20 global tech companies and employs over 106,000 people in IT. But the opportunity isn’t just about tech; it’s about accessing a workforce that’s educated, English-speaking, and experienced working with international companies.
The remote work infrastructure is mature. According to Hays Ireland Fall 2024 data, 45% of professionals work hybrid, 15% are fully remote, and 40% work on-site. College-educated employees in Ireland typically work from home about 1.5 to 1.9 days per week on average, similar to patterns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Ireland vs Other EU Countries:
Where to Hire Your Remote Team
Let’s be direct about the trade-offs:
When Ireland wins:
English proficiency: Ireland is the only native English-speaking country in the EU post-Brexit. Companies partnering with Ireland for services can take advantage of its English-speaking workforce and convenient time zone. If your team needs to write documentation, handle customer calls, or collaborate seamlessly with US/UK headquarters, this matters more than salary differentials.
Education quality over volume: 56% of people aged 25-64 in Ireland have attained a third-level qualification, compared with an EU average of 35%. You’re hiring from a pool where education is the norm, not the exception.
Employment cost efficiency: Ireland ranks sixth among 32 European countries for employment costs at €66,630 total cost on a €60,000 salary, combining relatively lower employment costs with a workforce fluent in the global language of business.
Timezone alignment: Ireland operates on GMT/GMT+1, creating natural overlap with both US East Coast (5-hour difference) and European business hours. When the working day in Ireland finishes, the American team is just starting, allowing for seamless task handover and communication without losing time.
When other countries might be better:
If cost is your only consideration: Poland’s average salary is €1,505 per month, and Romania, Greece, and Hungary are around €1,400s, compared to Ireland’s €4,890. Eastern Europe offers significant cost savings if budget is the primary constraint.
f you need specific language skills: Germany makes more sense for German-language customer support. Spain or Portugal work better if you’re targeting those markets specifically.
If you’re hiring at scale (50+ people): At that point, entity setup often becomes more cost-effective than EOR solutions, regardless of country. [Link to Entity vs EOR page]
Role-Specific Salary Benchmarks (2025)
Software Developers:
Average software engineer salary in Dublin: €72,750 per year (€60,000-€95,000 typical range)
Ireland-wide average for software engineers: €50,000-€70,000 according to Morgan McKinley
Entry level developers start around €36,640-€40,000, while senior engineers earn €70,000+, with top salaries exceeding €120,000
Customer Support/Service:
Customer Service Representatives: €35,000-€40,000 annually
Customer Support Specialists: €36,945 average (€28,675-€44,550 typical range)
Customer Service Managers: €50,000-€55,000
Sales and Business Development:
Salaries vary significantly by industry and experience, but expect €40,000-€70,000 for mid-level roles, with senior positions reaching €80,000+.
Total Employment Cost
Base salary is just the starting point. From October 2025, employer PRSI (social insurance) is 11.25% for weekly earnings above €527, or 9% for weekly earnings of €527 or less.
On a €60,000 salary, expect total employment cost with your own entity is around €66,630 (including employer PRSI). Factor approximately 11-15% on top of base salary for total employment cost in Ireland—among the lowest in Western Europe.
Availability and Competition
90% of businesses in the tech space report difficulty filling roles, and according to CPL’s 2025 Salary Guide, 66% of Irish employees favor hybrid or remote arrangements, with 60% saying they would turn down a new position if it didn’t meet their hybrid working needs.
Translation: Quality talent exists, but they have options.
Competitive packages and flexibility matter.
English-Speaking EU Access:
Ireland’s Unique Post-Brexit Position
Let’s state the permanent fact: Post-Brexit, Ireland is the only native English-speaking country in the European Union. This isn’t Brexit news but a structural reality of 2025 and beyond.
What this means practically:
No language barriers: Your Irish employees write documentation, handle customer calls, and collaborate with global teams in native English. Dublin’s “Silicon Docks” area houses numerous multinational tech companies including Google, Amazon, and Meta that benefit from Ireland’s English-speaking workforce and EU membership.
EU market access: Employees based in Ireland operate within EU regulatory frameworks, making them ideal for serving EU customers while communicating seamlessly with US/UK headquarters.
Cultural alignment: Companies partnering with Ireland benefit from proximity to London, English-speaking workforce, and convenient time zone. Irish business culture aligns closely with US/UK norms—direct communication, similar working hours expectations, and familiarity with international corporate structures.
Timezone advantage: Ireland operates on GMT (winter) and GMT+1 (summer), creating:
- Perfect overlap with UK business hours (same timezone)
- 5 hours ahead of New York during GMT, 4 hours during Irish Standard Time
- Morning overlap with US East Coast teams
- Full-day overlap with European operations
Remote Work Infrastructure in Ireland
Connectivity Reality
Ireland has invested heavily in broadband infrastructure. While rural connectivity varies (as it does everywhere), major cities and towns offer reliable high-speed internet suitable for remote work. The government’s National Broadband Plan continues expanding fiber access to rural areas.
Remote Work Culture
Remote working is largely successful in Ireland, with 90% of workers surveyed saying they were more productive or just as productive when working from home, and 75% of employers agreeing.
Nearly two-thirds of businesses that have remote work policies in place aren’t planning any major rollback on those policies, though some are adjusting to introduce mandatory attendance on certain days.
Legal Framework
In March 2024, employees in Ireland were granted the legal right to request remote working under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act. Since then, 24% of businesses have received formal requests, and only seven people denied the option took cases to the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission), which rejected them all – indicating most arrangements are being resolved at the company level.
Regional Opportunities
In Dublin, 65% of persons aged 25-64 years had a third level qualification in Q2 2024, but while Dublin averages around €55,000 annually, Cork averages €41,000, offering quality talent at lower costs outside the capital.
You’re not limited to Dublin’s “Silicon Docks.” Cork, Galway, Limerick, and regional hubs offer educated talent at more attractive costs with lower living expenses.
Once you’ve decided Ireland makes sense, the execution is straightforward.
Entity Setup
- 8-10 weeks to establish Irish entity and payroll
- Greater control and potentially lower per-employee costs at scale
- Requires local admin/finance support
- High cost of legal counsel
EOR/PEO Solution
- Advice from people-first employment experts
- Hire within 3-4 weeks
- No entity setup required
- We handle payroll, compliance, and benefits
- [Read our Entity vs EOR comparison]
What you need to know:
Employment law: Ireland has strong employee protections. [Link to Irish Employment Law page] covers contracts, notice periods, and compliance requirements.
Payroll and tax: Employers pay PRSI at 11.25% for weekly earnings above €527, or 9% for weekly earnings below this threshold. Employees pay income tax, USC (Universal Social Charge), and employee PRSI. [Link to Irish Payroll & Tax page] explains the full breakdown.
Work permits: For non-EEA nationals, Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit covers most professional roles above €32,000 annually. [Link to Work Permits & Immigration page] details the process.
Timeline: With Peak PEO, you can have someone employed and working within 3-4 weeks of deciding to move forward.
Your next step
Every company’s situation is different. A software startup hiring their first two EU-based developers has different needs than a US SaaS company building a 15-person Dublin customer success team. We’re Ireland-based, so we see these patterns daily. We’ll tell you honestly whether Ireland makes sense for your specific situation – and if it doesn’t, we’ll tell you that too.
