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Nature and structure of the labour force, demographics

Ireland's advantageous demographics and continuous investment in academia produce an abundant and consistent crop of highly educated labour.

In addition, Ireland`s unique position means that the workforce is advanced in language and customer service skills, technical abilities, as well as a reputation for flexibility and innovation:

• Over the last decade, total spend on higher education increased by an average of 10% per year, compared to the European average of 3%.
• High quality educational system backed by a Government strategy dedicated to producing the highest level of research talent in Ireland and abroad, with the target to double the number of PhDs by 2013.
• With 36% under 25 years of age, Ireland boasts Europe`s youngest labourforce.
• Diverse skills base in advanced manufacturing, international business services and RD&I.
• English first language with an abundant supply of multilingual skills.
• Population is projected to increase by 30% to more than 5.3 million by 2020, resulting in sustained growth in the labour availability that will far outstrip other EU countries.

Flexibility and Adaptability of workforce when faced with new challenges (country score):

• Ireland 7.85
• USA 6.98
• Netherlands 6.91
• UK 6.31
• Portugal 5.92
• Japan 5.71
• Czech Republic 5.46
• Germany 5.27
• Spain 4.89
• Hungary 4.00
• France 3.78

Source - IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009

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Education and Qualification

The Educational System in Ireland meets the needs of a competitive economy (country score):

• Ireland 6.85
• Germany 6.13
• France 5.87
• UK 5.14
• USA 4.81
• Spain 3.27

Source - IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2009

The Irish Government is committed to producing excellence in science, engineering and business development.

This commitment, combined with the extensive number of MNC operations established in Ireland, means that there is vast number of highly qualified and skilled managers available:

• Nearly 50 years of MNC investment in Ireland has created distinctive cumulative experience of managing pan-EU/global projects for MNCs.
• New generations of managerial expertise has worked up through the businesses of MNCs. This extensive experience leads to pro-active managerial roles across numerous sectors including advanced manufacturing, business services and RD&I.
• A plethora of sector-specific training courses are available in world-renowned universities and institutes of technology in Ireland, ensuring a constant outpour of qualified graduates and the availability of support and ongoing management training.
• The 2009 IMD ranked Ireland joint first out of ten European countries in the percentage of the population with a third-level qualification.
• More than 60% of 2005 graduates qualified in business, engineering, ICT, or science.
• The independent IMD World Competitiveness Report praised Ireland as having one of the best educational systems in the world.
• More than 40% of the population between the ages of 25 and 36 have been educated to 3rd Level.
• 60% of graduates in Ireland have degrees in engineering, science or business.
• A high percentage of the workforce are proficient in more than one language.

Labour Costs

Labour Productivity (PPP) - GDP per person employed per hour (US$):

• Ireland 49.63
• USA 47.78
• Netherlands 45.74
• Germany 41.26
• UK 39.08
• Spain 38.62
• Japan 37.28
• Czech Republic 27.44
• Portugal 25.84
• Hungary 25.31

Source - IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2009

Benchmark Labour Costs

• Administration/Secretarial - €20,000 - €25,000
• Factory Floor/Production Worker - €16,000 - €18,000
• Sales Executive - €35,000 - €45,000
• Electronics Engineer - €45,000 - €65,000
• Software Developer - €45,000 - €65,000

Source: Reed Salarary Calculator

Training and Recruitment Initiatives

IDA Ireland helps companies to upgrade the skills base of their key employees.

Highly qualified, well-trained staff and managers are indispensible, and vital in the overall success of a business. Support that IDA provides ranges from formal internal personnel training to off-site training schemes in Ireland or abroad.

Visits to already established corporate RD&I facilities are also available, in order to gain key technology and R&D management skills.