Construction Roles added to Critical Skills Occupations List

Civil engineers, quantity surveyors, construction project managers and mechanical/electrical engineers with BIM experience added to the Critical Skills Occupations List to combat current skills shortage in the construction industry.

These changes mean that non-EEA nationals with these skills will now be able to apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit to work in Ireland.

A number of occupations were also removed from the Ineligible Occupations List and will now be eligible for a General Employment Permit including sheet metal workers, crane drivers, plasterers, bricklayers, pipefitters and welders.

The changes follow engagement by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to combat skills shortages in the industry. A report in May showed that 10,600 extra workers joined the construction workforce in 2018, up 8% year on year and bringing the total workforce to 145,500.

Cost of Construction

The report also showed that the cost of construction rose by 7.7% in 2018 and was forecast to rise by 6.5% 2019, indicating that the increases were being caused by the high demand for construction services, skill shortages in the sector and wage increases.

Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director of Housing, Planning & Development at CIF, said: “The Irish economy has been growing strongly over the past number of years and it is clear from these figures that the construction industry has been growing with it. We’ve seen an extra 10,600 workers join the construction industry last year, which is helping to meet the 20% increase in investment in the sector.”

“With investment in the industry expected to reach €41 billion in 2023 and construction costs continuing to increase, we need to encourage more people to enter the construction industry, so skill shortages are not holding back growth, both of the industry and the economy as a whole. We’re confident that the employment permit changes we have secured will help to address this issue and that Ireland will start to see more skilled workers enter the construction industry.”

If you are looking for a Job check out our website; https://www.jobalert.ie/

For more information on Critical Skills Employment Permits CLICK HERE