Ireland Falls in Most Attractive Work Destinations for Global Talent

A new report released by The Stepstone Group, parent company of IrishJobs, reveals that Ireland has fallen four places to rank 36 in the most attractive countries for professionals across the globe to work.

Published in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and The Network, a global alliance of more than 70 leading recruitment websites, the study titled Decoding Global Talent 2024, is based on survey data from more than 150,000 workforce respondents from 188 countries, including 1,746 respondents in Ireland, and is the fourth instalment in a series, the previous editions having been published in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

Dublin is ranked number thirty-six in the most attractive cities for global talent to locate, maintaining the same position since 2020. At the national level, the same ranking (#36) is held by Ireland, although it has fallen four places since the previous survey in 2020. Quality of life is the top reason that professionals choose to relocate in Ireland. Quality of job opportunities and Safety, Stability and Security complete the top three factors underlying a desire to work in the country.

Findings show that it is predominantly professionals in Europe considering relocating to Ireland. European countries make up 7 of the top 10 countries where Ireland is considered a top destination for work. These include Portugal, Hungary, Estonia, Spain, Netherlands, Italy and the UK. Pakistan, the UAE and Ghana are the countries outside Europe where Ireland is viewed as a top destination to work.

The research also reveals that workers who move to Ireland expect support from employers across a wide range of areas including housing and visas/work permits. More than eight out of ten (84%) workers expect to receive help with housing. 83% of respondents look for visa and work permit assistance and 75% seek relocation support.

The results show that the UK remains the top destination for professionals in Ireland looking to work abroad. Australia has risen to second place in the most attractive countries for those in Ireland seeking to work abroad, followed by the US in third position. Only 8% of workers in Ireland describe themselves as actively seeking to work abroad. This compares to an average global figure of 23%.

Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, said: “Published today, the Decoding Global Talent 2024 report provides important insights for employers in Ireland seeking to attract and retain talent in a competitive labour market.

At the national level, while Ireland remains a relatively attractive location for talent to relocate and work, its fall in this year’s rankings may be a sign that the infrastructure challenges that the economy faces, particularly in housing supply, are having a greater impact on the desire of talent to move to the country. It is crucial that employers, Government and representative groups work together to address these challenges and make sure that Ireland has the right infrastructure and policies in place to be an attractive location for global talent into the future.

“With many employers relying on international recruitment to meet their talent needs, findings show that organisations need to offer a wide range of supports to help professionals relocate successfully. Consistent and open dialogue with talent throughout the recruitment process can ensure that employers stay attuned to the needs of hires and help to provide the necessary supports such as housing, visa/work permits and financial support.”

Global Findings

Despite global challenges such as geopolitical tensions, widespread economic concerns, and emerging virtual mobility trends from the past several years, moving abroad for work remains a dream for many workers around the world, with 23% of professionals actively seeking jobs in other countries, and 63% expressing an overall willingness to do so.

Younger people and people from countries with fast-growing populations are the most mobile. English-speaking geographies with strong economies lead the list of top destinations, with Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK being the four most desirable countries, and London topping the list of cities, with New York also placing in the top five.

Natives of regions with a labor surplus (owing to higher birth rates) tend to be more mobile than those who live in areas where the labor force is shrinking. For instance, 64% of workers in the Middle East and Africa are actively willing to relocate, and more than half of respondents in South Asia (58%) and sub-Saharan Africa (52%) are actively willing to do so. At the other end of the spectrum, much smaller percentages are seen in North America (16%) and Europe (10%).

“The world’s most important economies are facing a major challenge: the great people shortage. This looming gap in the global labor market is primarily due to declining birth rates and mismatches between job supply and demand,” said The Stepstone Group CEO Sebastian Dettmers. “Labor migration represents a prime opportunity to bridge this gap. We must adapt our job markets to be more versatile, enabling workers to move to where they are most needed and where they can find the best positions for their skills and aspirations.”

The survey results reveal that global talent moves abroad primarily for professional progress, with those willing to do so citing financial and economic reasons (64% of respondents) and career considerations such as work experience (56%) as their top reasons for doing so.

For respondents who listed a specific reason for choosing a particular country, the quality of job opportunities was the top decisive factor (65%), with quality of life and climate ranking second (54%). Other country-specific characteristics, such as opportunities for citizenship (18%) and health care (15%), also play a role but are secondary factors.

The study also highlights the fact that workers who move abroad expect employers to take the lead in supporting their relocation and onboarding and to cultivate an international, inclusive culture. Nearly eight out of ten respondents expect to get help with housing (79%) as well as visa and work permit assistance (78%), and more than half count on relocation support (69%) and language support and training (54%).

Download the publication here.

More insights about the survey are here.