Ireland
Living and Working
GEOGRAPHY
Geographically Ireland is
divided into two parts:
The Republic of Ireland
which is made up of 26
Counties
Northern Ireland which is
made up of 6 Counties and
is part of U.K.
Labour Market Factors
•
•
•
•
•
•
Young highly educated workforce
Immigration & Irish returnees
Emigration
National wage agreements
English language
High female participation rate
Ireland’s Demography
•
•
•
•
Total Population
Population Aged 15+
Employment
Unemployment rate
4.4 million
3.8 million
2.1 million
12.5%
the Irish Economy is Changing…
Employment Growth 1998-2009
Unemployment Rising Rapidly
Live Register
450000
400000
350000
300000
250000
Dec-08
Apr-08
Aug-07
Dec-06
Apr-06
Aug-05
Dec-04
Apr-04
Aug-03
150000
Dec-02
200000
Notified Vacancies Falling …..
Figure 1.11: Vacancies Notified to FAS 2004-2008
160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Jan-May Vacancies
2008
2009
Service/Sales Managers
1806
1039
42%
Health associate professionals
1105
469
58%
Science/engineering associate professionals
1700
729
57%
Other associate professionals
1811
1822
-1%
Skilled metals/engineering workers
2667
1018
62%
Skilled building workers
1177
328
72%
Clerical workers
5178
1781
66%
Health/care service workers
3169
1521
52%
Hotel/catering workers
8271
3703
55%
Sales workers
8038
4156
48%
Transport workers
1543
487
68%
Other service workers
6309
2850
55%
Other production workers and operatives
2818
753
73%
48881
22567
54%
YEAR
Total
% Decline
Opportunities – Skills and Labour Shortages
• Software Engineers (with experience in networks and
specific software applications (e.g. Java).
• Accountants (with expertise in regulation, compliance
and risk)
• Actuaries
• Marketing Managers (with considerable experience)
• Technical Sales Representatives with knowledge of
particular products/services
• Scientists (highly qualified and experienced
professionals and technicians)
• IT specialists with fluent foreign language skills
• Engineers (experienced design and process engineers
for manufacturing subsectors)
Opportunities – Skills and Labour Shortages
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sales Assistants (i.e. shops)
Clerical (office work, accounts)
Caring (health care, child care, elder care)
Catering (Chefs, waiters, fast food)
Hairdressing
Security (shops, office, factories)
Health sector (e.g. Doctors and Nurses)
Occupational Employment Forecasts 2012
Engineering,
Computing,
scientific,
Medical,
Legal and
Financial
Professionals
More information: www.fas.ie
- FÁS Quarterly Labour Market Commentary
- Job Opportunities in the Down-Turn
Know before You Go
Essential Preparation
• Contact your local EURES Adviser before you
leave the country
• Seek pre-departure advice on “L & W”
• Bring relevant personal documentation,
relevant ‘E’ forms and European Health
Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Speak at least basic English
• Have enough money to live for 1 month at least
Know before You Go
Essential Preparation
• Try to find a job before you arrive or be
prepared to look for it
• Discuss any queries relating to your contract of
employment directly with your new employer
• Have somewhere to stay on arrival – Friend
www.hostelbookers.com
www.hosteldublin.com
Qualification recognition
• The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
www.nqai.ie is the Irish centre for the recognition
of international qualifications.
• The Authority represents Ireland in a European
network of Centres known as ENIC/NARIC
www.enic-naric.net (European National
Information Centre/National Academic Recognition
Information Centre).
Looking Work in Ireland
FÁS – The Training & Employment Authority
www.fas.ie
– Employment:
2,891 Jobs (February 2009)
* 5,300 Jobs (September 2008)
- Training Courses
– CV on line
www.eures.europa.eu
– Living & Working in all the EU Countries
Looking for Work in Ireland
Private Recruitment Agencies
• Irish Federation of Personnel Services
(IFPS www.nrf.ie )
• No Charge to Jobseekers
• Agencies generally charge employers 12%
to 20% of first year’s salary.
Internships/ Work experience in Ireland
•
•
•
•
•
www.leargas.ie
www.ie.aiesec.org/AI
www.gradireland.com
www.iaeste.ie
EURES portal
{(Access www.eures.europa.eu ; select –Jobseekers;
select - Related links: National Employment Services
(on bottom right hand side of screen), select Information and jobs for graduates (on left hand side
of screen)}.
Some Useful Web Sites
•
•
•
•
•
•
Irish Government
Citizens Information
Irish Times:
Irish Independent:
Sunday Business Post:
Irish Examiner:
www.gov.ie
www.citizensinformation.ie
www.irish-times.com
www.independent.ie
www.sbpost.ie
www.examiner.ie
On arrival - What you need to do
1. Register for PPS Number – Social
Security
2. Register for Tax – Tax free allowance
Cert.
3. Open a Bank Account
PPS Number
A PPS (Personal Public Service) Number is your
unique reference number. This PPS Number will help
you to access benefits and information from public
service agencies more quickly and more easily. This
includes services such as Social Welfare, Revenue,
Public Healthcare and Education.
More information on: www.welfare.ie
PPS Number – How to apply?
In your local Welfare office you need to show:
• Current Valid Passport or National Identity Card
and
• Evidence of either birth /work /unemployment
/residency /tax liability /education
and
• Evidence of address in Ireland!!!
(Household Bill, Official letter/document, financial
statement, property lease or tenancy agreement,
verified employers letter. All documents must show
the applicants name and address)
Opening a bank account
Introduction Letter from employer with
exact details as per Passport
or
The letter from PPS application received
back from Social Welfare Department
Driving Licence or Passport
Details of Irish Address – Utility Bill
Minimum Wage
€8.65 per hour
Please note:
The minimum rate of pay increases from time to
time. Details of current minimum rates are
always available from the Employment Rights
Information Unit or on the Department’s
website www.entemp.ie
Personal Taxation
• Tax system: PAYE = Pay As You Earn
• 2 rates of Tax
20% on the first €36,400.00 earned
41% on all earnings above €36,400.00
• Personal tax allowances granted to
individuals by a system of Tax Credits
More information on: www.revenue.ie
Income Tax - Example
Single Person - Tax Credit €1,830
Married Person - Tax Credit €3,660
Example: INCOME TAX – Single Person
Salary of €26,000 euro
A single person pays 20% tax on €26,000 = €5,200
Less €1,830 tax credit = €3370 taxable pay
Social Security
• PRSI = Pay related Social Security
• No payment on first €127.00 of earnings
• On a basic salary the social security
deduction is 4% on earnings over €127
• A health contribution of 2% is deducted from
all income
More information on: www.welfare.ie
Accommodation - Rough Guide
Housing situation
• 45%
• 35%
• 18%
Owned outright
Owned but with a mortgage
Rented (private/local)
Average rents in Dublin
per month
•
•
•
•
Fully furnished
1 bedroom apartment
2 bedroom apartment
3 Bedroom House
Bedsit/Studio
€
700+
750+
1100+
500+
Renting a House or Apartment
•
•
•
•
•
•
Landlords usually require:
1 month’s rent in advance
1 month’s rent as security
Generally require 1 year’s lease
Rental agreements are legal
Custom is for young people to share
accommodation.
Some Approximate Prices
from a Typical Shopping Basket
(Tesco Dublin – September 09)
•
•
•
•
•
Eggs (6)
Chicken (Tesco - medium)
Potatoes (2.5kg)
Milk (1 litre)
Bottle wine (average)
• Washing up liquid (Tesco)500ml
€1.42
€2.99
€3.39
€0.97
€8.49
€0.79
IRELAND
•
•
•
•
•
Head of State: Mary McAleese – President
The Dáil (Parliament) + Senate
Current Prime Minister – Brian Cowen
Coalition Government
Currency € - Euro
• Time = GMT -Irish time minus1 hour
IRELAND
• Ireland offers a good quality of life
• Temperate climate – lots of rain!
• English speaking – the Irish
language is still spoken in some
areas but for work English is
essential.
• Many young people – a variety of
interests – football, Gaelic games,
golf, fishing, rugby, music (U2),
theatre, cinema etc
Thank you
Jacqueline Wadden
EURES adviser
Dublin
Tel. 01 2043600
E-mail: [email protected]
FÁS activities are funded by the Irish Government and the National Training Fund