Ireland’s Digital Leap and Lessons for the UK

On St Patrick’s Day, we celebrate Ireland’s digital leap and the lessons the UK can learn.

While the world celebrates St Patrick’s Day with parades and pints of Guinness, we think it’s apt to take a moment to appreciate another Irish success story – the booming technology sector.

Ireland has quietly become a global tech powerhouse, offering valuable insights for nations including ours. As recruitment specialists, it offers what we love to see – a thriving tech jobs market.

This surge in digital activity translates directly into a wealth of opportunities for tech professionals, from software engineers and data scientists to cybersecurity experts and project managers. The demand is high, creating a competitive landscape where skilled individuals are highly sought after.

Ireland’s digital sector is a force to be reckoned with. A staggering 50 billion Euro industry, it contributes a remarkable 13% to the nation’s GDP, as reported by Technology Ireland. This isn’t just about big numbers. It’s about the presence of global giants like Apple, AWS, Google and Meta all choosing Ireland as their EMEA hub. The country is a magnet for tech talent and innovation, creating a thriving ecosystem for both multinationals and SMEs.

A Strategic Digital Vision

Ireland’s proactive and comprehensive digital strategy is key to its success. “Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework,” launched in 2022. This strategy focuses on four key pillars:

• Digital transformation of business including ambitious targets for SME digitisation, with a focus on cloud computing, AI and big data by 2030
• Investment in digital infrastructure bridges the rural-urban digital divide with improved broadband and international connectivity
• Digital skills development ensures a workforce ready for the digital age
• The digitalisation of public services aims for near-universal online public service delivery by 2030

This strategic approach, aligned with EU 2030 digital goals, is paying off. Add to this a thriving tech start-up economy and it’s easy to see why Ireland is a top five world tech hub.

Lessons for the UK

The UK, with its own ambitions for digital leadership, can learn valuable lessons from Ireland’s success. From a clear and coherent digital strategy to investing in infrastructure and fostering a pro-business environment, Ireland has proved that when the strategy is right, the jobs will follow.

For those looking to advance their tech careers, Ireland presents a dynamic market with a range of roles and growth potential. This dynamic environment encourages career progression. It also offers a strong foundation for those looking to build a career in the tech industry.

If you are looking to expand your tech career here in the East Midlands, talk to us about how we can help.

About EMBS

EMBS, headquartered in Derbyshire, is a specialist recruitment consultancy focused on Engineering and Technology. We empower businesses to build impactful teams and individuals to find fulfilling careers by aligning talent and growth strategies. With over two decades of experience, we provide expert recruitment solutions driven by a collaborative and supportive team. We go beyond traditional recruitment, acting as trusted partners and leveraging a network of specialist advisors to ensure our clients make the best talent decisions. Find your next job.