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The Minimum Wage in Ireland was increased on January 1st 2018.

The new minimum wage is €9.55 an hour (was €9.25)

The Low Pay Commission recommended in June 2017 ,  that the National Minimum Wage for an experienced adult worker should increase to  €9.55 per hour. (The increase was only supported by six of the nine Commission members.)

This  change to the minimum wage works out as an increase of 3.2%  on the current rate of €9.25 per hour.

The minimum wage for an experienced adult worker has increased by  10.5% since 2015 – when the minimum wage was €8.65 per hour.
It is estimated that about 10% of employees in Ireland are on the minimum wage (about 155,000 people)

See the <a href="http://www.moneyguideireland.com/minimum-wage-ireland-2017.html">Minimum Wage Rates for 2017 here</a>

These are the rates of the Minimum Wage that apply from January 2018
<ul>
 	<li>Experienced adult worker €9.55 per hour</li>
 	<li>Over 19 and less than 2 years since first job  €8.60 per hour.</li>
 	<li>Over 18 and less than 1 years since began first  job  €7.64   per hour.</li>
 	<li>Aged under 18   €6.69 per hour</li>
</ul>
(An experienced adult worker –  for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage Act –  is an employee who has an employment of any kind in any 2 years over the age of 18.)

For example:  A 19 year old gets his first job on June 1st 2018 – he is entitled to €7.64 an hour. He won’t be entitled to €8.60 an hour until June 1st 2019 – the first anniversary of his first job. He won’t be entitled to €9.55 an hour until June 1st 2020 – the second anniversary of his first job.  It doesn’t matter how long he worked in each job or if there were gaps in employment.

Source: <a href="http://www.moneyguideireland.com">http://www.moneyguideireland.com</a>

Minimum wage in Ireland increased to €9.55 an hour

NEW 20,000 SQ FT BAKERY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST GLUTEN FREE BAKERIES IN IRELAND AND UK
Goodness Grains was delighted to welcome some international buyers to its new bakery in Longford last week.

The buyers were in Ireland as part of <a href="https://www.longfordleader.ie/search?q=Bord+Bia&amp;idcanale=12&amp;idcanalericerca=12">Bord Bia</a>’s Marketplace event which took place at Dublin’s RDS on Thursday last, April 12.

Marketplace International is the largest and most important trade event in the Irish food and drink industry’s calendar.

The one-day event is an exclusive, invitation only event that this year brought together 600+ buyers from over 40 countries to showcase 185 targeted and pre-screened Irish food and drink suppliers – from multinationals to artisan producers.

<a href="https://www.longfordleader.ie/search?q=Goodness+Grains&amp;idcanale=12&amp;idcanalericerca=12">Goodness Grains</a>’ new 20,000 sq ft bakery is a purpose built, dedicated Gluten Free facility, one of the largest gluten free bakeries in Ireland and UK.

The new facility has on site blast freezing capabilities and as part of its current expansion phase, has implemented a full traceability system.

Five years on from initial production commencing back in 2103, the Goodness Grains brand continues to grow across both retail and food service sectors in Ireland with emerging business opportunities in the UK and Europe.

Goodness Grains commitment to sustainable production is enforced by its verified membership of Bord Bia’s Origin Green Sustainability Programme.

An exciting period of growth has commenced for the company with many new product developments in the pipeline.

One such development is the company’s unique range of Gluten Free Danish Pastry lines, the company is the only producer in Ireland of this product type in the Free From category.

Source;

https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/home/308205/goodness-grains-welcomes-international-buyers-to-new-longford-bakery.html

Goodness Grains welcomes international buyers to new Longford bakery

The Government cannot become complacent about the risk to more than 650 jobs at Aughinish Alumina in Limerick even though fears are easing about the Trump Administration’s targeting of its Russian owner Rusal.

That is according to Limerick TD, Niall Collins who was speaking as the White House moved to further soften its stance against Rusal, whose majority owner Oleg Deripaska was accused of having too close ties to the Kremlin.

Some 450 jobs and more than 200 agency roles were under threat at Aughinish, as sanctions imposed on Mr Deripaska’s companies played havoc with metal markets over the past number of weeks.

Shares in Rusal plummeted as sanctions sent the entire aluminium industry scrambling to restore supply chains. Rusal’s refining operations, which stretch from Aughinish to Jamaica, are a vital cog in a global supply chain.

Global mining firm Rio Tinto has plants in Dunkirk, France, and Iceland that use the Irish alumina, and Liberty House Group’s Scottish smelter also depends on the site.



Rio Tinto, which buys and sells to Rusal and jointly owns an alumina refinery in Australia, said last month it would declare force majeure on some contracts, which allows a firm not to deliver on contracts due to circumstances outside its control.

An amendment by the US Treasury to its Russian sanctions programme may greatly reduce the restrictions on Rusal, Rio Tinto chief executive Jean Sebastien Jacques said yesterday.

The US Treasury this week gave investors an additional month to divest or transfer their holdings in sanctions targets, including Rusal. Shares in Rusal have begun to recover since the crisis saw it lose more than half its value. They were up more than 8% yesterday. The US has said previously it would consider lifting sanctions if Mr Deripaska, who holds a 48% stake in Rusal, ceded control of the firm. Mr Deripaska has agreed to cut his shareholdings.

Under the latest US Treasury amendment, the deadline to divest financial holdings in sanctions targets would be extended to June 6 from May 7.

Mr Collins said the new deadline gave “time and space” for Rusal to get its house in order, thereby reducing the worry among the Limerick-based workers, who were inadvertently caught up in a diplomatic spat that had little to do with them.

“The best case scenario is for Mr Deripaska to divest his interest. However the Government cannot rest on its laurels and must keep the dialogue open to ensure the jobs, which are vital for the area, are preserved,” he said.

 

SOURCE;  https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/government-urged-to-keep-aughinish-jobs-on-agenda-840627.html

Government urged to keep Aughinish jobs on agenda

US doughnut chain Krispy Kreme is to hire 150 people to staff its new Irish factory store.

The new store is due to open in Blanchardstown in Dublin in September, marking the first move by the brand into the Irish market.

The new factory store will also include a 24-hour drive-through.

The company said it was &quot;looking for everything from doughnut makers to retail team members&quot; to join their Irish team.

It said that all 16 varieties of its hand-crafted, hand finished doughnuts will be available to buy in the Irish store, including their famous original glazed doughnut.

Irish customers will also be able to design their own doughnuts and watch them be created by hand in the store.

Krispy Kreme has more than 1,300 stores in 31 countries and it delivers more than 73 million doughnuts per year to more than 800 locations.

Ireland is just the third European country the company has expanded into after the UK and Iceland.

Source: RTE -<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0716/978959-krispy-kreme-doughnuts/"> https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0716/978959-krispy-kreme-doughnuts/</a>

Krispy Kreme to create 150 jobs in first Irish store - Blanchardstown

Abbott Ireland has confirmed it is planning to expand its workforce in Donegal and create 500 new jobs.

Two hundred people are currently employed by Abbott Ireland in Lurganboy, where the company manufactures and distributes products for the treatment of diabetes.

In January 2018, Abbott Ireland was granted permission by Donegal County Council for warehouse, office and plant extensions to the existing facility at Lurganboy, totally 3,301 square metres.

A spokesperson for Abbott said: &quot;This expansion will bring around 500 new jobs to the site over the next few years.

&quot;We&#39;re also expanding manufacturing in the US. We are not disclosing details of the investment or the timeline, but it is a multi-year project.&quot;

Established in 2006, the Abbott Diabetic Care facility in Donegal, manufactures and distributes the worldwide supply of Abbott brands of blood glucose test strips.

Research and development is also carried out at the site.

(Source;  RTE.ie)

More Coverage on this topic here;  http://donegalnews.com/2018/07/500-jobs-on-the-way/

Abbott Ireland to create 500 new jobs in Donegal

The area with the highest rates of completed third-level education in Ireland is Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown.






A total of 61.1pc of the population in the area boast completion of third-level education.




Galway City came in second with 55.2pc, while Dublin City and Fingal came in joint-third with 48.7pc of their populations completing third-level.

Both Longford and Wexford were tied as the areas with the lowest level of people who completed third-level education, at 32.5pc a piece.




Education levels have sharply risen over the last 25 years, with 42pc of the population having a third-level qualification compared with 13.6pc in 1991.

The latest Census report on Education, Skills and the Irish language a continued decline in the number of early school leavers, but a slight drop in the number of people able to speak our native tongue.




Just over 1.7m said they could speak Irish, or 39.8pc of the population, a slight drop on 2011 of 0.7pc. Fewer than one in 50 speak Irish on a daily basis.

&quot;This report shows a continuing decline in the numbers of early school leavers and increases in the numbers with third level qualifications,&quot; CSO senior statistician Deirdre Cullen said.




&quot;It examines and analyses changes in these areas, as well as the relationships between the level of education completed and employment and economic status.

&quot;It also looks at our use of the national language, including our ability to speak Irish, as well as where and how often the language is spoken.&quot;




The Census also reveals:




<ul>
 	<li>Women tend to be better educated than men, with 43.2pc of women and 40.7pc of men having a third-level qualification.</li>
 	<li>The average age of completion of full-time education is rising to 19.9 years, up from 19.1 in 2011. The youngest age of completion are in Monaghan, Cavan, Wexford and Donegal.</li>
 	<li>Those with an Arts degree ten to have the highest unemployment rate. The lowest unemployment rate is in Education graduates. There are more people with doctorates.</li>
</ul>
The report also examines use of the Irish language and finds that the highest percentage of people able to speak Irish was in Galway at 49pc, followed by Clare, Cork County and Mayo. The lowest percentages were in Dublin City, Louth and South Dublin, followed by Cavan.




One in four who profess to be able to speak Irish never use it.

Source: https://www.independent.ie

Third Level Graduates

550 jobs are to be created in Dublin by pharmaceutical company MSD and design software firm Autodesk.

350 of the new jobs will be provided by MSD at a new manufacturing facility in north Dublin.

The plant will produce biologics-based medicines for the global market on the grounds of the company&#39;s former site in Swords.

In June 2013 <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2013/1128/489745-msd-job-losses/">the company announced it was closing that facility</a>, which produced fertility and women&#39;s health products, with the loss of 570 jobs.

The factory shut in June of last year and, although MSD initially sought a buyer, the US based firm has now decided to resume manufacturing there.

Planning for the complex facility will begin immediately, as will recruitment, and MSD hopes to have it operational by 2021.

&quot;MSD has a long history in Ireland, we&#39;re here over 50 years, we&#39;ve invested over $2.5 billion and we are operating four sites with 1,700 employees,&quot; said Ger Brennan, Managing Director of MSD Ireland Human Health and head of the MSD Ireland country leadership team.

&quot;So that&#39;s a testament to the talent we have here in Ireland and I think that is one of the main reasons why Ireland was chosen for this. Also we have very strong relationships with the government, IDA and universities, and talent is key,&quot; he said.

There will be a wide range of roles on offer in the Swords facility, including in quality, engineering, manufacturing and biochemistry.



The company says former employees in Swords can apply, but it added that the skills required for the new roles will be different to what staff there previously were required to have.

&quot;If they have the right level of experience and qualifications, absolutely then please apply online,&quot; Mr Brennan said.

The plant will produce a range of biologics medicines - drugs made from living organisms - particularly in the area of immuno-oncology.

Demand for the company&#39;s key product in this area, Keytruda, is particularly strong and MSD Biotech Dublin will be predominantly focused on its manufacture.

Last May the company announced 330 jobs and a €280m expansion of its Carlow and Cork plants as a result of increased global demand for its medicines and vaccines, including Keytruda.

The investment figure for the new Swords facility is not being disclosed, but in recent weeks the company revealed it was planning $4 billion in capital investment in Europe and it is understood the new Dublin plant is part of that.

The expansion will bring to 2,050 the number of people employed by MSD across its Irish sites.

Meanwhile, US design software company Autodesk is to open an office in Dublin, creating 200 jobs.



The roles will be in the areas of finance, operations, localisation and sales operations and the company hopes to fill the positions by the end of the year.

Chief executive of Autodesk, Andrew Anagnost, said Dublin had been chosen for the expansion because of its global business environment, talent and ability to support European languages.

He also praised the &quot;excellent long term-cost structure&quot; and the quality of life it offers employees which aligns with the company&#39;s culture and brand.

Autodesk makes computer-aided design software that is used by designers, developers, engineers and the entertainment industry.

Its products have been used in the construction of many Dublin buildings, including the Central Bank and the new children&#39;s hospital.

The investment is supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.

Source: https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2018/0213/940373-msd-dublin-jobs/

550 jobs to be created by two firms in Dublin

Many awaiting decisions on refugee status now entitled to apply for jobs in most sectors


Participants in the Diageo Ireland Learning for Life Programme display their certificates at a special graduation ceremony which took place in the Guinness Storehouse earlier this month. Photograph: Kenneth O Halloran.
Liam Reid, of Diageo Ireland, said the company was looking forward to helping the asylum seekers who graduated from its Learning for Lifeprogramme earlier this month to secure work.
The programme offered hospitality training over eight weeks to 22 participants from Mosney direct provision centre ahead of the Government’s access to work scheme. Diageo had worked closely with the Department of Justice on the programme and was confident the ban on asylum seekers’ right to work would be fully lifted by June, said Mr Reid.
“We understood the right to work created a real physical and social network for participants. It’s not just a job, it’s the ability to engage in a much more meaningful way in the community.”
Mr Reid said Diageo planned to expand the programme to other centres around the State in the coming months.
“We think there’s a value there for the hospitality sector. They have a big worker shortage and this can contribute to more numbers.”




Refugee support groups have welcomed new measures which open the Irish labour market to asylum seekers but have raised concerns that people must wait nine months after their arrival in the State before applying for jobs.
The directive, which was announced by the Government on Wednesday and comes into force this weekend, means asylum seekers will be entitled to apply for work in all sectors of employment except An <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&amp;tag_organisation=Garda+S%C3%ADoch%C3%A1na">Garda Síochána</a>, the <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&amp;tag_organisation=Defence+Forces">Defence Forces</a> or the public and civil service.
Nick Henderson, of the <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&amp;tag_organisation=Irish+Refugee+Council">Irish Refugee Council</a>, called for “careful monitoring” of the reduction or removal of the weekly €21.60 direct provision allowance once an asylum seeker secures a job, saying people would need time to gather savings and develop social networks.
He also expressed disappointment that only those who have waited more than nine months for a decision on their asylum application would be able to access the labour market and the fact that people who had already received a decision, or had appealed that decision, would not be eligible to work under the scheme.
Pippa Woolnough, of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, said the announcement was evidence that the Government had listened to the requests of civil society but warned of pre-existing delays within the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in distributing work permits. She also criticised the Government for not allowing asylum seekers to apply for a driving licence.

Earnings
Fiona Finn, of the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre, welcomed the removal of the earnings requirement, permit fees for applicants and ineligible employment categories from the new scheme which, she said, demonstrated “the State’s commitment to treat asylum seekers with dignity and respect”.
Other related Articles


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/about-3-000-asylum-seekers-to-have-right-to-work-1.3546153">About 3,000 asylum seekers to have right to work</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-asylum-reform-a-welcome-step-in-the-right-direction-1.3545904">The Irish Times view on asylum reform: A welcome step in the right direction</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/asylum-seekers-nine-months-in-ireland-will-be-allowed-to-work-1.3545993">Asylum seekers nine months in Ireland will be allowed to work</a></li>
</ul>

Gaby Patino from <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&amp;tag_location=Venezuela">Venezuela</a>, who has lived in a direct provision centre with her boyfriend in Cork for nearly two years, said she was relieved to hear the news and hoped to find a job in a shop so she could save money for the future.


She said that eventually she would like to find work in the area she studied in university, psychology.
“We just want to keep our brains busy and live a normal life. We have been waiting for our interview for two years and we haven’t been able to work any kind of job,” she said. “The next thing is getting a licence to drive because we live so far from the city and transport is very expensive.”
Othello Obaro, an IT engineer from <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/topics/topics-7.1213540?article=true&amp;tag_location=Nigeria">Nigeria</a>, said that after more than four years in direct provision, the new job scheme was “like a dream come true”.
He had tried applying for work following the announcement of the new directive in February but failed to secure a position without a work permit.
“Now I’m going straight there tomorrow to apply for my work permit so when companies ask do you have the right to work I can say ‘yes’.”
Source of this article; https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/refugee-groups-give-mixed-response-to-work-scheme-for-asylum-seekers-1.3546141

About 3,000 Asylum Seekers now have the right to work in Ireland

Cork, and the south-west in general, is better-positioned than other regions in Ireland to deal with Brexit-related challenges, and is primed to benefit from in-bound job relocations, according to specialist bank Investec.

Ongoing investment, lower office rental costs, lower unemployment rates than the national average and above average job creation rates have led Investec to suggest that the region is better prepared.

“The labour market provides the most visible illustration of the economic renaissance that is underway,” according to Kieran Ferguson, who heads up Investec’s Munster office.

“The south-west is seeing extraordinary rates of job creation, with total employment rising 6.8%, year-on-year, in the second quarter. This is nearly three times the national rate of job creation.

“Unemployment across Cork and Kerry stands at just 4.8%, the lowest of all the regions of Ireland.”

“While Brexit is posing challenges for parts of the economy, it is also creating significant opportunities,” added Sinead Lohan, of Investec’s corporate and treasury team. “Scarely a week goes by without news of further Brexit-related job relocations to Ireland. While much of the focus, up to now, has been on Dublin, we think that Cork is really strongly positioned to claim a piece of the action.”

To back this up, Ms Lohan pointed to prime office rents in Cork city being half of that quoted in Dublin and 15% of Cork’s office stock being currently available, with a number of grade A developments in the pipeline.

Investec’s chief economist Philip O’Sullivan said the world economy being in its best condition since the financial crisis should have a significant positive knock-on effect for the Cork economy.

“According to the IMF, global GDP will expand by 3.5% this year and by a further 3.6% in 2018. Cork and the wider south-west region plays host to major IT, pharma and agri-food enterprises who are leveraged to developments across the world economy.

“Put simply, faster global growth automatically leads to an acceleration in the rate of economic expansion in this part of Ireland. The outlook, therefore, for Cork and its hinterland is especially encouraging at this time.”

Source: <a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/cork-deemed-largely-brexit-ready-460127.html">irishexaminer</a>

Cork deemed largely Brexit-ready

Source: Donegal Democrt

Up to 30 news jobs have been created with the opening a new store by the frozen food supermarket chain Iceland, in Letterkenny today.

The well-known retailer opened their newest Irish store located in the Courtyard Shopping Centre, Main Street, Letterkenny.
The opening of their new Donegal branch is part of a €12 million investment into nine new stores in Ireland this year.
Letterkenny marks the fourth store in that investment, with Limerick, Gorey, Shannon, Fermoy and Ballincollig to follow in the coming months.

The new 7,800-sq. Ft. store in Letterkenny sees the creation of 30 jobs, bringing the number of staff in Iceland Ireland to 360, up 100 from this time last year.

Ron Metcalfe, Managing Director of Iceland Ireland commented: “We’re delighted to announce the opening of our second Iceland store this month, this time in Donegal. This is an exciting return for Iceland to Letterkenny and we’re looking forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the Iceland family.”

Thomas McAree, Iceland Letterkenny Store Manager added: “I’m delighted to be part of the first Iceland store in the north west of Ireland. We’re looking forward to meeting new customers here in Letterkenny and bringing a wide range of fantastic savings to their shopping trolleys. We are excited for the community to experience all that Iceland has to offer as we open the doors here today”.

30 new jobs as retail chain open new Donegal store

US multi-national Graebel Inc confirmed they are &#39;on the move&#39; with a new European HQ being set up in Dundalk.






An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald TD joined Bill Graebel, CEO of Graebel Companies Inc., to announce the official opening of the company&#39;s newly established Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Financial Shared Services and Operations Centre in Finnabair business park last week. Speaking at the launch, the Graebel CEO confirmed that recruitment is already underway for 125 new jobs within the next three years.




He explained that Graebel, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is &#39;a leading provider of workforce and workplace mobility services for Fortune 500 and Global 100 firms in 165 countries.&#39;

The EMEA Financial Shared Services and Operations Centre in Dundalk will provide a broad range of finance functions across multiple levels of experience, including general ledger, treasury and compliance, as well as customer support roles.




It also will serve as an additional operations centre in Europe to support Graebel&#39;s EMEA headquarters in Prague, and the growing needs of Graebel&#39;s clients in managing their international talent mobility and relocation programs.

&#39;Ireland gives Graebel a strong gateway to the European market. Our location in Dundalk will allow us to better serve our international clients and their employees&#39; needs, as we provide our duty of care that is central to our values. We look forward to working with the Irish government and IDA to further grow our business internationally and create jobs in Ireland for many years to come.&#39;




Welcoming the announcement, An Tánaiste and the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD said: &#39;I&#39;m delighted to welcome a company of Graebel&#39;s calibre to Ireland and their creation of 125 jobs for Dundalk over the next three years. A key priority of this Government, through our Regional Action Plans for Jobs, is to create jobs in rural Ireland and this significant number will be transformative for Dundalk.

Known globally for its end-to-end relocation solutions, Graebel&#39;s establishment here will also greatly assist foreign direct investment (FDI) relocating to Ireland and Europe. Just two weeks ago, Ireland was named as the best country in the world for attracting high-value FDI for the sixth year in a row. Having Graebel here will only enhance our offering and I wish Graebel and their team every success.

Source: <a href="http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/town-provides-gateway-into-eu-for-us-company-36142637.html">Independent.ie</a>

Town provides gateway into EU for US company

NEW YORK and DUBLIN (September 20, 2017) – Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) announced today its expansion into Europe with the opening of its European Headquarters in Dublin. The move is expected to create 100 new jobs over the next three years.

KBRA is a full service credit rating agency that was established in 2010 to restore trust in credit ratings following the financial crisis.  Since then KBRA has differentiated itself by offering accurate, timely, transparent ratings and research.  With over 275 employees and offices across the United States located in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, KBRA has published over 8,000 ratings totaling $740 billion.  The firm covers all markets including Structured Finance, Aviation, Public Finance, Financial Guaranty, Financial Institutions, Project Finance, Insurance and Corporates.

Given the exponential growth in the U.S. over the past few years, KBRA is expanding into Europe to provide investors and all market participants an additional view on ratings accompanied by the most thorough, detailed, accurate and timely analysis.  KBRA expects all major geographies in Europe to benefit from this approach, including Ireland where it hopes to become the pre-eminent agency, improving access to the capital markets for all entities in the country.

<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/jobs/"></a>

Welcoming the announcement, An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald TD said “I&#39;m delighted that KBRA has chosen Dublin for its international HQ. The Government has been making strenuous efforts to ensure that we have the right conditions in place here to attract the knowledge based sectors, and announcements like this one today are a proof of these efforts. I&#39;m confident that you will find the skills you require from our thriving Financial Services Sector and I look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in the coming years.”

“KBRA is thrilled to open our first international office in a great city such as Dublin.  We are so grateful for the city’s welcoming reception of our firm and we look forward to our growth within Dublin and across Europe”, said Jim Nadler, President &amp; CEO.

Martin Shanahan CEO of IDA Ireland said: “I am delighted that KBRA have chosen Ireland over several other European destinations. This is another Brexit win for Ireland and indicates that financial institutions that may have previously chosen London now view Dublin as a viable post Brexit solution. With the European economy growing faster than the American economy, now is the time to be optimistic about Europe and Ireland remains unwavering in its commitment”.

About Kroll Bond Rating Agency
KBRA is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). In addition, KBRA is recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) as a Credit Rating Provider (CRP).

<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2017/0920/906139-irish-diaspora/">Listen to Interview on the RTE Website  - Mauricio Noé, Head of Europe at KBRA</a>

Source: IDA Ireland

Credit ratings agency KBRA selects Dublin for European Headquarters

Ahead of the budget yesterday, the Minister referenced unemployment numbers in recent years. He said unemployment is at 6.1 percent, its lowest since 2008. Mr Donohoe says it will fall to 5.7 percent next year, close to the level considered to be full employment.

Also following the budget today additional funding will create:
<ul>
 	<li>1,000 additional frontline staff across the health sector.</li>
 	<li>1,300 extra teaching posts 2018, pupil-teacher ratio reduced to 26:1</li>
 	<li>1,000 extra Special Needs Assistants (SNAs)</li>
 	<li>40 New staff for Department of Enterprise</li>
 	<li>800 New Gardai to be recruited in 2018</li>
 	<li>500 extra civilian workers to be recruited within Gardai</li>
</ul>
Tusla – additional funding will hopefully increase the number of Social Workers to be recruited.

Additional funding for additional 3,000 additional Social Houses should mean more jobs in the building sector.

Job announcements from this year's budget

Some 2,063,000 recorded as being in employment in Ireland by CSO
The rate of employment has increased by 2.4 per cent in the last year, according to the latest <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Central%20Statistics%20Office&amp;article=true">Central Statistics Office</a> employment statistics for the second quarter of 2017 and unemployment is now running at 6.4 per cent.
Since the end of 2012 the rate of employment has been increasing in <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news">Ireland</a>, following the economic financial crash in 2008. The overall unadjusted unemployment rate dropped from 8.6 per cent to 6.4 per cent over the last 12 months, according to the CSO while the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment is down from 6.8 per cent to 6.2 per cent over the last four months.
Some 2,063,000 were recorded as being in employment in Ireland, in the latest quarterly national household survey published today.
In total 48,100 more people were recorded as in work compared to this time of year in 2016.
The number of people recorded as unemployed decreased by 46,300 in the last year.
The rate of unemployment has seen a year on year decline since 2012.
The information and communication sector saw the largest employment growth over the year. While the agricultural, farming and fisheries sector saw the biggest decrease in employment rates.
The rate of youth unemployment has fallen from 19 per cent after the second half of 2016, to 16.5 per cent at the same time this year.
Part-time employment has declined by 29,700 (6.4 per cent) over the year.
The CSO quarterly national household survey tracks employment levels in each quarter of the year.
The long term unemployment rate fell from 4.4 per cent at the end of 2016 to 3.1 per cent over the year.
Long term unemployment accounts for just less than half of total unemployment persons.
Source: <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/jobless-rate-falls-to-6-4-as-employment-continues-to-grow-in-recovery-1.3230279">IrishTimes</a>

Jobless rate falls to 6.4% as employment continues to grow in recovery

<a href="https://www.siliconrepublic.com/author/jenny-darmody">by Jenny Darmody</a>

While the US cracks down on the number of immigrants with work visas, Canada is using the opportunity to lure top talent.

Among a number of other consequences, Ireland’s talent pool could stand to benefit from Brexit, as a number of highly skilled EU workers are considering leaving the UK in the next five years.

Could the UK’s loss be Ireland’s gain? Only time will tell. However, the UK isn’t the only country losing its talent to its neighbours.
<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/jobs/"></a>
In the US, it’s no surprise that the current political scene may have driven people to consider emigrating. After US president Donald Trump was elected last November, the Canadian immigration website crashed, most likely due to a high volume of traffic.

Now, Canada appears to be answering those cries for help by making it easier for people to immigrate to the country with a Global Skills Strategy visa programme.

The new programme will make it easier for companies to bring foreign workers to Canada with specific skills.

While this will prove attractive for US workers looking further afield, employees from other countries should take note, too.

With Trump’s proposed restrictions on US immigrants regarding work visas, this traffic will no doubt be diverted to Canada, which appears to be welcoming incoming workers with open arms.

The visa programme will appeal to tech workers who no longer qualify for H-1B visas as well as Americans who want to relocate for personal reasons.

Highly skilled workers coming to Canada on a temporary basis will now be able to benefit from a speedy, two-week application process for work permits and temporary resident visas. Open work permits for spouses and study permits for dependants will also be processed in two weeks when applicable.

Two permit exemptions for short-term work came into effect in June of this year. Workers on a very short-term assignment and researchers taking part in short-duration research projects can come to Canada without requiring a work permit.

For more information, <a href="http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/gss.asp">CLICK HERE</a>

Canada attracts top talent with swift visa processes!

Budget Summary regarding Employed People 

Before the budget announcement began at 1 pm, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the Budget 2018 will give an average family with two incomes an extra €500 or €600 a year. Add to that obviously savings in childcare, savings in medicines costs and they may have a little higher than that.

Higher Tax Bracket
The point at which people enter the higher, 40 percent rate of income tax will rise from its current level of €33,800 by €750 for a single person to €34,550.

USC – Universal Social Charge
The 2½ percent Universal Social Charge (USC) rate is being cut to 2 percent and the ceiling for this new rate is rising from €18,772 to €19,372.

Cuts to income tax and USC are set to save families up to €9 a week.
The Minister said that cuts to the USC were to ensure that full-time workers on the national minimum wage of €9.55 per hour do not pay the higher rates.

The higher 5 percent rate of USC is being lowered to 4.75 percent, which the Minister said would reduce the top marginal rate of tax on income up to €70,044 to 48.75 percent.

Families and individuals across the country are set to save in the order of up to about €468 a year come next January. The biggest gains look set to go to those earning €14,500 or less.

Changes mean that those benefiting from the 3.24 percent increase in the minimum wage to €9.55 an hour will see their USC charge fall from €210 to €191. However, their tax burden will also rise due to increased earnings, which means that they will be up by just €6 a week.

Those earning up to €70,444 will also benefit from a further cut to the 5 percent rate, which will drop back to 4.75 percent. This means that a single person earning €30,000 will be up by just €2 a week, someone on €55,000 will be up by €6 and someone earning €150,000 will be up by €6.

A married couple on the minimum wage, on the other hand, will see savings of €8 a week, while the savings will be the same for other couples.

A married couple with one income will do better, with savings of €9 a week for an earner on the minimum wage, €7 for a couple on €30,000 and €8 for a couple on €55,000 and above.

Self Employed
For the self-employed, the earned income credit will increase by €200, bringing it to €1,150 per year from next year.

FIS – Family Income Support
The threshold for receipt of the Family Income Supplement rises by €10 per week for families with up to three children.

Jobseekers’ Transitional Scheme
The Jobseekers’ Transitional scheme is rising by €20 per week.

Diesel &amp; Petrol
There will be no change to the taxes on diesel or petrol.

Further Information: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pwc.ie%2Fbudget&amp;h=ATNQvXV6rPUbX8ZwcV2UCEN-Hn3y-7CNJ-Ug1iACYfAkINgx7dE_iHaEU0zeVIaqXXQ_Rcdjqju4G_WyWxWCFCQcQAdYWkLvJExu_i_6F1mMPw92jttkmTGqZgmA6Vsx9-psjwSuJ-k">http://www.pwc.ie/budget</a> &amp; <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fbudget-2018-cuts-to-income-tax-and-usc-set-to-save-families-up-to-9-a-week-1.3247336&amp;h=ATNQvXV6rPUbX8ZwcV2UCEN-Hn3y-7CNJ-Ug1iACYfAkINgx7dE_iHaEU0zeVIaqXXQ_Rcdjqju4G_WyWxWCFCQcQAdYWkLvJExu_i_6F1mMPw92jttkmTGqZgmA6Vsx9-psjwSuJ-k">https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/budget-2018-cuts-to-income-tax-and-usc-set-to-save-families-up-to-9-a-week-1.3247336</a>

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