What The Next 5 Years Could Mean for Remote Work in Ireland
Today saw the publication of the new Programme for Government, and a first glance would suggest that the incoming Government sees the transformative potential that remote work still has to offer for employers, employees, and communities alike.
Remote work removes location as a barrier to employment, providing individuals and communities across rural and regional Ireland with the same access to well-paid careers in finance, business, or tech, that were once the sole preserve of our large cities. The proliferation of remote work has multiple positive knock-on effects, whether by lowering the stress on housing supply in cities, or reducing carbon emissions by eliminating thousands of daily commutes.
At Grow Remote, we welcome this continued commitment to harnessing the power of remote work, as outlined in the new Programme for Government.
Ireland has long been ahead of international trends when it comes to innovation in the remote work space, with government-led investment in the Connected Hubs Network, and the provision of fully funded training programmes in remote work by the Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board being notable highlights. The creation of the Oireachtas All-Party Group on Remote Work during the last Government highlights the growing importance of remote work to Ireland’s future economy.
Ireland now has a unique opportunity to leverage remote work in order to continue achieving significant social, economic, and environmental benefits. The next five years represent a crucial window for Ireland to position itself as the global leader in remote employment: creating jobs, fostering economic growth, strengthening local communities, and contributing to environmental sustainability.
Embracing remote work at scale will set Ireland up for a more competitive, technologically progressive economy, and a more sustainable and equitable society. In order to achieve this, however, the supply of and demand for remote work must be addressed in greater detail in the coming years.
Increasing the Supply of Remote Jobs
- Global Remote Jobs Strategy:
Tens of thousands of remote roles are available globally, and Ireland is well-positioned to capture a significant share of this market. By establishing the right structures, Ireland can create a fourth pillar of employment, complementing indigenous companies, foreign direct investment (FDI), and agriculture. - Support for Indigenous Employers to Embrace Remote Work:
Government investment in training and support programs for employers would help businesses — especially small and medium-sized enterprises — develop the necessary tools and infrastructure to implement and manage remote work effectively, ultimately expanding the number of remote jobs available in Ireland’s indigenous workforce.
Addressing Demand for Remote Jobs
- Building Remote Work Communities:
Grow Remote has highlighted the importance of building vibrant local communities for remote workers, where individuals can engage with each other both professionally and socially. Investing in local remote hubs and communities can serve as a critical support system for remote workers, offering both physical workspaces and social connection opportunities. - Increased Visibility and Accessibility to Remote Jobs:
The Government should invest in creating a centralised platform for remote work that includes job listings, training resources, and information about remote-friendly employers. Greater visibility is essential for job seekers, particularly those from disadvantaged or rural areas, who may not be aware of available remote opportunities.
As the points above show, significant progress has been made in Ireland to date, but more support and investment is needed to position Ireland as the global leader in remote work.
Tracy Keogh, Co-founder and Chair of Grow Remote, said of the new Programme for Government:
“The cross party group needs to set up an agency responsible for winning a proportion of the remote jobs available on the market. If we landed 10,000 of the available 100k, that would be €130 million for the taxpayer and jobs in the most remote regions of Ireland. It will require structural changes as we’re not currently set up to drive this. Some EU funding structures don’t incentivise remote. We need quick wins to ring-fence remote jobs to the island of Ireland.“
