While Dublin issued more than 31,000 work permits in 2025, African nationals appear in Ireland’s figures without their exact share being made public. This lack of transparency complicates any evidence-based assessment of their contribution, at a time when Ireland is expanding recruitment channels across the continent.
The report, Non-EEA migration to Ireland in times of labour and skills shortages, published on November 3, 2026, by the European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland, lists 137 nationalities among employment permit holders in 2025. Its breakdown by country of origin explicitly identifies South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Sudan among sub-Saharan African countries.
For North Africa and the Middle East, Egypt is listed alongside Israel. However, no specific figures are provided for these countries. Detailed data cover only the five leading countries of origin: India (32%, or 9,947 permits), the Philippines (11%, or 3,398), Brazil (11%, or 3,381), China (6.2%) and Pakistan (4.7%). South Asia alone accounts for 40.8% of all permits.
African countries, meanwhile, are grouped under broad regional categories labeled “Other,” leaving a statistical blind spot that the report indirectly acknowledges. It notes that “comprehensive and reliable data remain scarce” in this field, “undermining any analysis of decisions to stay or leave.”
Moroccans, whose numbers are lower than those of Nigerian, Egyptian, South African and other workers, are included in the aggregated “Other” categories. Ireland has nevertheless incorporated Morocco into its migration framework. In July 2024, the Department of Justice added the country to its list of “safe countries of origin,” alongside Egypt, India, Brazil and Malawi, among others. This designation concerns asylum applications and does not in itself create a dedicated recruitment channel. However, it places Morocco among the countries with which Dublin is gradually establishing a more structured migration relationship.
Main sectors receiving employment permits in 2025
| Sector | Share of 2025 permits | Number of permits in 2025 | Change, 2021-2025 | Link to General Employment Permits / Critical Skills Employment Permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and social work | 26% | 7,948 | +37% | General Employment Permit holders are most strongly represented |
| Information and communication | 12% | 3,630 | -21% | Critical Skills Employment Permits predominate |
| Accommodation and food services | 11% | 3,499 | +345% | General Employment Permit holders are most strongly represented |
| Other service activities | 7% | 2,087 | +251% | Not specified |
| Construction | 6% | 2,031 | +235% | Sector experiencing strong growth |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 6% | 1,915 | +116% | Not specified |
| Financial and insurance activities | 5% | 1,424 | +30% | Critical Skills Employment Permits predominate |
| Transportation and storage | 4% | 1,363 | +414% | Not specified |
| Other sectors | 23% | — | — | — |
Source: European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland.
This lack of visibility makes it difficult to measure the African contribution to Ireland’s response to labor shortages, even as the country’s employment permit system more than doubled between 2021, when 16,275 permits were issued, and 2022, when the figure reached 39,955. In 2025, the total number of newly issued or renewed permits stood at 31,044, according to figures cited in the report’s conclusion.
Nigeria stands out
If one African country receives particular attention in the report, it is Nigeria. The document details the SUSTAIN pilot project, funded by the Migration Partnership Facility and managed by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. Ireland is participating alongside Germany in the initiative, which aims to attract Nigerian professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to the European Union.
The program provides “pre-departure training and orientation, remote integration support, including visa assistance, and employer-led mentoring upon arrival.”
Ireland’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration describes the initiative as “an additional safe and regular migration pathway to Ireland, closely aligned with local skills needs, and a viable alternative to irregular migration routes.”
The report also highlights the shared language and well-established Nigerian diaspora in Ireland as strategic advantages. The case illustrates a broader approach: Ireland is seeking to engage strategically with key partner countries through EU Talent Partnerships. The Irish Department of Justice has expressed interest in participating in one of these partnerships as an observer, offering a way to formalize what remains, for now, an experimental approach.
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The sectors absorbing workers
Sectoral data offer an indication of the likely employment opportunities for African workers. Health and social work accounted for 26% of permits in 2025, or 7,948 permits, followed by information and communication activities at 12% and accommodation and food services at 11%. Construction accounted for 6%, with 2,031 permits, up 235% from 2021. Agriculture, forestry and fishing also represented 6%, with 1,915 permits, an increase of 116%.
These are precisely the sectors in which General Employment Permits are most prevalent. The report notes that holders of these permits are most strongly represented in health and social work, as well as accommodation and food services.
For the first time since 2016, slightly more General Employment Permits than Critical Skills Employment Permits were issued in 2024. This points to a growing share of low- and medium-skilled migrant workers needed by Irish employers.
General Employment Permits require a labor market needs test, a minimum annual salary threshold of €36,605 as of March 2026, and a 12-month waiting period before family reunification. Critical Skills Employment Permits allow immediate family reunification and provide the possibility of applying for Stamp 4 residence permission after two years.
Housing, retention and exploitation
Three challenges particularly affect workers in lower-paid sectors, where Africans are likely to be overrepresented, although the report does not provide figures to confirm this.
The first is worker retention. According to the report, citing data from the Department of Finance, 40% of those granted Critical Skills Employment Permits to work in Ireland leave within two years.
After five years, around 60% of workers holding Critical Skills Employment Permits and 50% of those with General Employment Permits have left Ireland. Such high turnover can limit the extent to which foreign recruitment provides a lasting solution to labor shortages.
Housing is the second challenge. Ireland’s shortage of affordable accommodation could discourage some workers from choosing to stay in the country long term, the report notes. Recruitment agencies surveyed identified housing costs as a major factor behind hiring difficulties.
The third challenge is exploitation. Violations of employment conditions are particularly common in low-skilled, low-paid jobs, the report points out. NGOs and trade unions have reported high levels of exploitation, mainly, though not exclusively, among General Employment Permit holders. Reported abuses include unpaid wages, inadequate accommodation, excessive working hours and discrimination. In January 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission had only 63 inspectors, with 16 vacancies still unfilled at the end of 2025.
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The report does not explicitly examine the effects of labor migration on countries of origin, but it offers some elements for assessing them. The SUSTAIN project is described as a “win-win dynamic.” “Ireland benefits by attracting critical talent needed for its economy, while Nigeria gains employment and training opportunities for its citizens.”
However, Ireland’s low retention rates, with 40% of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders leaving within two years, suggest that African countries’ investment in human capital may result in temporary migration rather than permanent brain drain. The report provides no figures on return rates to Africa. It simply notes that “a better understanding of migrant workers’ retention intentions and the factors shaping them” is needed to “better assess the effectiveness of economic migration policy.”
