Technology

New Initiative Launched to Attract Tech Workers to Ireland

Tech/Life Ireland, a new national initiative to attract tech workers to Ireland, has been launched. The initiative will brand Ireland as a top destination for careers in the technology sector.

The initiative, which cost €1.9m, was funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and will be delivered in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the tech industry. It is hoped that it will help attract up to 3,000 top tech professionals to Ireland each year.

The initiative uses digital and social media, as well as a dedicated website, to give techies from around the world a glimpse at the job opportunities available in Ireland, as well as the lifestyle that they would be arriving to. The initial target market, which was identified based on analysis of talent movement as well as search activity and consultation with recruitment professionals, includes countries in Central and Southern Europe.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor spoke about the importance of such an initiative if Ireland is to remain a key player in the technology sector: “If we are to continue to win overseas investment in ICT-related jobs, and to grow the strong base of Irish-owned companies in ICT and related areas, we need to ensure that we have a sufficient supply of talent to meet the needs of enterprises.” 

Karl Flannery, chief executive of Storm Technology and Chair of the Tech/Life Ireland delivery group said: “We have engaged extensively together to understand the needs of the industry in the coming years and to develop this initiative. We are delighted to launch it today. I would encourage companies to register with the initiative and keep Ireland’s tech sector thriving through the attraction of the world’s best talent.”

The techlifeireland.com website and digital platforms will provide information about the latest tech jobs available in Ireland, profiles on the top tech companies in the country, case studies of foreign workers in Ireland’s tech sector and their positive experiences, updates from Ireland’s top tech influencers, as well as guide to Irish culture and the practical matters of immigrating and finding accommodation.

Currently, Ireland employs over 80,000 people in ICT companies. Employment in the sector has seen strong growth over the period 2009 to 2015, with figures now showing that growth happening faster than previously forecast.

The demand for ICT talent isn’t restricted solely to software development but spans across a range of sectors, including financial services, business services, retail and high-end manufacturing.

Martin Shanahan, chief executive of IDA Ireland, said that Ireland has become known as a global technology hub with the ability to attract some of the largest ICT companies.

“This has earned Ireland the reputation for being the heart of the ICT industry in Europe. The high quality of life available in Ireland, coupled with a thriving ICT sector attracts talent from around the world. This has been a key factor in the success of multinational companies here. IDA Ireland sees this trend continuing as more and more technology companies choose Ireland as a gateway to service the global market.”

According to ICT Ireland and the ISA, the Ibec groups that represent the digital technology sector, the initiative will play a key role in building Ireland’s reputation as thriving tech hub. The . ICT Ireland and ISA Director Paul Sweetman said: “Since 2008, over 40 per cent of Silicon Valley tech companies have had at least one founder from outside the US. This is a crucial statistic. It points to the importance of diversity in creating an innovative world-class tech hub. Ireland is home to technology businesses from across the globe and is a hotbed of indigenous digital technology companies. It stands to reason that this global footprint of companies be matched by a global workforce.”

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