Critical Skills List Ireland
For occupations which cannot currently be filled by Ireland’s existing labour supply, Ireland publishes a Critical Skills Occupation List. If your profession is included on this list and you are looking to move to Ireland for work, or if you are an Irish company looking to fill an opening which is on the list, you may benefit from a streamlined employment process.
However, navigating Ireland’s employment rules and regulations can often be complicated. Contact IAS today on +353 (0)61 518 025 or chat with us online for help ensuring that the overseas recruitment process runs as smoothly as possible.
What is the Critical Skills Occupation List?
In order to qualify for an Irish Critical Skills Employment permit, you will generally need to have an offer of employment for a job on Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment List. This is a list of professions where there is a shortage of relevant skills or workers in Ireland or the European Economic Area (EEA).
The occupations on the list are considered highly skilled and highly important to Ireland’s continued economic growth, with Ireland’s current labour supply currently unable to meet the demand for those roles.
The list is decided based on the recommendations of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which advises the Irish government on likely future skill needs within Ireland.
Note that, in the case of jobs which offer a sufficiently high salary, it is possible to obtain a Critical Skills Employment permit even if your role is not on the Critical Skills List. Otherwise, the company in question will first need to complete a Labour Market Needs test before hiring a non-EEA worker.
Page Contents
- What is the Critical Skills Occupation List?
- Critical Skills Occupation List 2026
- What is the Labour Market Needs Test?
- Benefits of Being on the Critical Skills List
- Minimum Salary Requirements
- What If Your Job Isn’t on the Critical Skills List?
- How Often Is the Critical Skills List Updated?
- Eligibility Assessments Based on the Critical Skills Occupations List
- What are skills in high demand in Ireland?
- How Can IAS Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Critical Skills Occupation List 2026
At the time of writing, the roles within the following table are included in Ireland’s Critical Skills Occupation List. However, it is important to note that the list changes regularly, based on consultation with the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
| Category of Employment | Specific Roles |
|---|---|
| Production Managers and Directors |
|
| ICT Professionals |
|
| Health and Social Services Managers and Directors |
|
| Managers and Proprietors in Agriculture Related Services |
|
| Natural and Social Science Professionals |
|
| Engineering Professionals |
|
| Information Technology and Telecommunications Professionals |
|
| Health Professionals |
|
| Therapy Professionals |
|
| Nursing and Midwifery Professionals |
|
| Teaching and Educational Professionals |
|
| Business, Research and Administrative Professionals |
|
| Architects, Town Planners and Surveyors |
|
| Welfare Professionals |
|
| Quality and Regulatory Professionals |
|
| Media Professionals |
|
| Draughtspersons and Related Architectural Technicians |
|
| Health Associate Professionals |
|
| Artistic, Literary and Media Occupations |
|
| Design Occupations |
|
| Sports and Fitness Occupations |
|
| Business, Finance and Related Associate Professionals |
|
| Sales, Marketing and Related Associate Professionals |
|
In some of the above occupations, there are particular areas of specialisation which are covered by the Critical Skills List.
For more information on the specific areas of specialisation which are in demand within the above occupations, contact IAS today on +353 (0)61 518 025.
What is the Labour Market Needs Test?
The Labour Market Needs Test is designed to ensure that, when an Irish company places a job advert, they first try to recruit from within Ireland or the EEA. In the event that no suitable candidate who is either an Irish or EEA citizen can be found, the company can then recruit a non-EEA citizen.
In order to satisfy the requirements of the Labour Market Needs Test, companies must complete the following steps before offering the role to an non-EEA national and applying for an Employment permit:
- Place a continuous notice with the Department of Social Protection Employment Services/EURES employment network for a period of at least 28 days
- Place the continuous notice on an extra online platform, also for a period of at least 28 days. This can be any website, software, or electronic technology which is primarily concerned with publishing job vacancies
- The 2 notices must both contain the following information:
- A description of the role in question
- The employer’s name
- The minimum annual pay
- The location of the role
- The hours of work
- In the event that a suitable candidate cannot be found, the application for an Employment permit must be made within 90 days of when the notice for the role was first published
This test must be completed before the issuing of a General Employment permit or a Contrast for Services Employment permit.
Note that, in the case of roles on the Critical Skills List, no Labour Market Needs Test is required. This is because the existing Irish labour supply has already been deemed insufficient to meet the skill needs for that particular role, making recruitment from overseas necessary.
As such, roles for which a Critical Skills Employment permit will be issued will not require a Labour Market Needs Test.
For assistance with satisfying the requirements of the Labour Market Needs Test, contact IAS today.
Benefits of Being on the Critical Skills List
Recruiting for a role which is on the Critical Skills List reduces the barriers to hiring a candidate from overseas. Employers can hire a non-Irish or EEA candidate without first needing to recruit within Ireland or the EU.
This allows employers to hire the top international talent, regardless of nationality.
Additionally, as the roles on the Critical Skills List have been identified as central to Ireland’s continued economic development, filling roles in the Critical Skills List helps companies to contribute positively to Ireland’s economy.
If you are an international worker whose profession falls on Ireland’s Critical Skills List, your skillset has been confirmed as being in high demand in Ireland. This boosts your chances of successfully finding Irish employment and starting your relocation journey.
Overall, being on the Critical Skills List reduces the barriers to recruitment, allows for a more seamless immigration experience, and boosts Ireland’s economic strength.
For more information on the benefits of being on the Critical Skills List, contact IAS today.
Minimum Salary Requirements
In the case of job offers for occupations on the Critical Skills List, the salary being offered must be at least €40,904.
However, it is still possible to obtain a Critical Skills Employment permit in cases where the annual salary is over €68,911, provided that the role in question is not on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits (e.g. probation officers, estate agents, and fitness instructors) or contrary to the public interest.
If your role is not on the Critical Skills List and you do not satisfy the extenuating minimum salary threshold, you may still be able to obtain an Irish Employment permit if the hiring company first completes a Labour Market Needs Test and is unable to find a candidate from Ireland or the EEA.
What If Your Job Isn't on the Critical Skills List?
If the role for which you are advertising or for which you have been recruited is not on the Critical Skills List, obtaining a Critical Skills Employment permit may still be possible.
In general, the role in question will need to have an annual salary of at least €68,911 in order for this to be possible. However, even if the salary satisfies this minimum threshold, it will not be eligible for a Critical Skills Employment permit in the event that it is either on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment permits or contrary to the public interest.
The occupations on the Ineligible List of occupations for Employment Permits include the following:
- Leisure and sports facilities managers
- Probation officers
- Dental technicians
- Counsellors
- Housing officers
- Police officers (sergeant and below)
- Fitness instructors
- Estate agents
- Book-keepers
- Records clerks
- Office managers
- Legal secretaries
- Groundsmen
- Weavers/knitters
- Chefs
- Florists
- Nursery nurses/assistants
- Dental nurses
- Travel agents
- Taxi drivers
- Train drivers
- Window cleaners
While this list is not exhaustive, it provides some insight into the types of roles for which it is not possible to obtain an Irish Critical Skills Employment permit.
For more information on whether or not your profession is eligible for an Irish Employment permit, contact IAS today.
How Often Is the Critical Skills List Updated?
The Critical Skills List is updated periodically, though there is not a fixed update schedule. It is updated in conjunction with the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, who advises the Irish government on likely future labour market requirements in terms of important work skills.
If you are an employer looking to hire overseas workers for a particular job opening, it is important to first check for updates to the Critical Skills Occupation List.
If the role in question is included on the list then you will not need to first complete a Labour Market Needs Test before hiring from overseas, whereas you will if the role in question is not on the list.
Eligibility Assessments Based on the Critical Skills Occupations List
If you are applying for a Critical Skills Employment permit on the basis of a role which is on the Critical Skills list, you will need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
- The role in question must pay at least €40,904 a year
- The prospective employee must have the relevant qualifications, skills and experience to complete the role in question
- The hiring company must have a work force which is composed of at least 50% EEA nationals, with exceptions sometimes made in the case of certain start-ups
If an Employment permit is successfully obtained, the employee will generally then need to apply for an Irish Work visa.
Contact IAS today for more information on whether or not you are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment permit.
What are skills in high demand in Ireland?
Many of the skills in demand in Ireland relate to information and communication technology (ICT): i.e., roles involving computer science. For instance, the following roles are all included on the Critical Skills list at the time of writing:
- IT Specialist Managers
- BIM Managers
- IT Project and Programme Managers
- IT Business Analysts, Architects, and System Designers
- Programmers and Software Development Professionals
- Web Design and Development Professionals
- Other ICT roles which don’t fall into the above categories
A number of medical skills are also in demand, with the following roles also included on the list:
- Medical Practitioners
- Psychologists
- Industrial Pharmacists
- Pharmacists
- Radiographers
- Radiation Therapists
- Vascular Technologists/Physiotherapists
- Gastro Intestinal Technologists/Physiologists
- Podiatrists/Chiropodists
- Audiologists
- Perfusionists
- Dieticians
- Cardiac Physiologists
- Medical Scientists
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Orthoptists
- Registered Nurses
- Registered Midwives
These roles all involve relevant specialist skills which have been deemed to be in high demand within Ireland. In order words, the existing Irish labour market is not currently meeting the need for these skills.
In general, the list evolves based on the current needs of the Irish economy and job market. As such, it is important to check the list regularly in order to identify any updates.
How Can IAS Help?
Ireland is a common work destination for many non-EEA workers, across numerous industries. It boasts numerous professional advantages, such as many job openings, bustling cities and towns, a rich cultural experience, and warm communities.
So too, many Irish companies choose to hire from overseas so that they can secure the top international talent, regardless of nationality. For companies advertising job openings which are included on the Critical Skills Occupation List, there are generally fewer barriers to hiring from overseas.
However, navigating Ireland’s employment immigration rules can often be complicated. As such, seeking legal assistance with the process can often be incredibly useful.
At IAS, our legal experts are adept at advising on cases like this and are ready to ensure that the overseas hiring process runs as smoothly as possible. Whether you are an Irish company looking to hire from overseas or a non-EEA worker looking to relocate to Ireland, contact us online today or on +353 (0)61 518 025 to help ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on January 27th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Irish government provides an online list which includes all of the occupation categories and specific roles which are currently on the Critical Skills Occupation List. This list is updated periodically, depending on Ireland’s labour skills demand.
The government also publishes an Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits; Employment permits will not be granted for the roles included on this list.
If your occupation is not included on either list, you may still be eligible for a Critical Skills Employment visa, provided that your prospective annual salary would be at least €68,911.
Yes, individuals can apply for jobs which are not on the Critical Skills List. The exact process will depend on the Employment permit in question. If the job is not on the Critical Skills List, the prospective employer will first need to complete the Labour Market Needs Test before hiring a non-EEA individual. The details of this test are given in the main article.
If the job in question pays more than €68,911, it is possible to obtain a Critical Skills Employment Permit even if the role in question is not on the Critical Skills List, provided that the role is not on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
Yes, in general, jobs on the Critical Skills List are jobs which Ireland’s existing labour supply has been deemed unable to fill.
This reduces the barriers which companies face when recruiting from overseas; they will not need to complete a Labour Market Needs Test before hiring a non-EEA citizen, for example, as it has already been established that there is a labour need within Ireland for that particular role.
However, in general, your ability to successfully obtain an Irish Employment visa will depend on a range of factors, including your qualifications, experience, the particular area of Ireland in which you are applying for jobs, and your relocation timeline.
If your occupation is not on the Critical Skills List, this does not mean that it is considered an unskilled role. The list reflects current labour demands within Ireland and so this often means that, in cases where a role is not on the list, there is not currently a labour shortage within Ireland and the EEA for that particular role.
