Apart from being home to some of the world’s best universities, Ireland is also one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union. In addition, the country offers a high quality of life and the ideal geographical location for access to other countries in Europe. Ireland offers a graduate scheme for international students looking to remain in the country to work. The country is also home to some of the most well-known multinational companies, providing great graduate opportunities. We explore the top five jobs for graduates in Ireland and what qualifications you’ll need to have.

Medicine, nursing, and dentistry 



As with many countries around the world, Ireland is always on the lookout for healthcare professionals. This is particularly true of doctors, nurses, dentists, and radiologists. With a growing population and the need for health services, if you’re pursuing a degree in one of these subjects, you’ll stand a good chance of securing work in the country after graduation.

Both doctors and dentists are some of the best-paid jobs in the country. 

Naturally, you don’t start in the top salary bracket, but with experience, you can earn up to GBP 75,000 a year as a dentist and up to GBP 100,000 as a doctor. It is estimated by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) that the country needs an additional 1,260 doctors by 2024 and approximately 1,600 hospital consultants. Public health expertise is another area of healthcare that is on the priority list for the Irish government.  

Discover the top universities in Ireland.

Engineering 

The Irish government has compiled a list of critical occupations and the skills shortages that exist in the country. A field that has been earmarked for growth and the need for graduate talent is engineering. This includes several engineering specialisations:

• Mechanical engineering
• Civil engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Electronics engineers
• Process engineers
• Design engineers

In 2020 alone there were job opportunities for over 6,000 prospective engineers in Ireland. This will continue to grow as critical infrastructure projects are initiated. Starting salaries for engineers in Ireland are on average EUR 30,000 to EUR 33,000. It is estimated that because of the demand for engineers, the average salary could increase. Salaries in the sector have risen steadily by about EUR 5,000 over the last few years.

Explore the top student cities in Ireland.

Business and finance

Some of the biggest graduate employers in Ireland are world-renowned accounting and consultancy firms. There is a growing demand for graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in the financial services industry. Some of the roles where graduates are in-demand include:

• Management accountants
• Actuaries
• Financial analysts
• Investment managers
• Data scientists
• Risk analysts
• Statisticians

With career progression, the salaries for certain roles can be attractive. As a qualified and experienced actuary earnings range between GBP 60,000 and GBP 80,000 a year. If you rise to director level in finance, you could earn over GBP 100,000 a year.

One of the best ways to secure graduate employment is by applying for work experience and internships while you study. You can help with opportunities through your university’s career services or international office. Remember that doing some volunteer work is also always good for the CV even if it’s not directly related to the career you wish to pursue. Don’t forget that you will need a post-study visa to work in Ireland.

Find out how to apply to study in Ireland.

Information technology

Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft all have their European headquarters in Dublin, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the demand for skills in information technology is on the rise. With the rapid development of technology and its deployment across multiple sectors of the economy, graduates with the skills to manage, develop and maintain this digital infrastructure are in a good position.

According to the government’s Critical Skills Occupation List, there are certain specialisations within information technology where expertise is most needed. These include:

• Telecommunications manager
• IT managers
• IT project managers
• IT systems analysts
• IT system architects
• Software developers
• Web designers

A career as an ICT professional also provides the opportunity for growth and progression. The salaries aren’t bad either. As a senior IT project manager or solutions architect, you can expect to earn between GBP 70,000 and GBP 80,000 per year. If you choose the route of software development management, then your earnings could be as high as GBP 90,000 per annum.

Find out more about some of the top scholarships in Ireland.

Supply chain management and logistics

With the need to keep projects on track and goods moving through complex systems and bureaucracy, supply chain and logistics management have become increasingly important in Ireland. There is a need for several roles within the sector:

• Procurement managers
• Buyers
• Distribution management
• Logistics planner

International students are also at an advantage in the competition for a role, as having a second or third language is seen as desirable. It can help when communicating with counterparts in different countries to negotiate deals or solve problems. You could even study a combination degree in which you include a language elective with supply chain management.

There you have it. These are the top five sectors for graduate employment in Ireland. To continue reading more about studying in Ireland, you can consult our guide to what Ireland offers international students, the top five things to do in Ireland, and famous alumni who attended university in Ireland.