With a population of just 4.8 million people, our modest Country holds the position of the second largest provider of computer and I.T services in the world. This amounts to 70 billion euro of exports, covering software, hardware and services, and makes up 40% of all Irish exports. Embracing and adapting to new emerging technology has been a crucial aspect of this, along with political and geographical factors that played a role in our rise to power. While technology is infamous for automating and replacing jobs in various sectors, Ireland is a prime example of how you can evolve and refine yourself in the face of these modern challenges.
Ireland currently hosts the top 5 global software companies, nine of the top ten US Technology companies and four of the top five IT services companies world wide. Though Ireland has historically hosted reputable names such as Dell and apple, in recent years the IT industry has accelerated in its growth, mirroring its greater impact on our day to day lives. The European Union is the worlds largest economy, with its open market approach enticing to many international companies. A key element in American companies choosing to base their operations on our emerald isle, is our relatively short distance to the East coast in comparison to other EU nations. With a 5 hour time difference between Dublin and New York, this gives many companies a lot of over-lapping time to coordinate and query between two offices or multiple teams. Another tantalizing bonus of choosing Ireland as a European headquarters is our historically low tax rate. During the years 1956- 1980, Ireland offered a 0% rate of tax on international businesses, creating an influx of companies seeking to base there. When Ireland joined the EU, it was forced to revise this to 10% upon entering, while we now offer a 12.5% corporation tax.
Ireland boosts one of the youngest workforce’s in Europe, with 33% of its population under the age of 25, and just over 50% under 35. With experts forecasting our population to swell to close to 6 million by 2040, the need for more jobs will only increase. Ireland has worked hard to make its populace attractive acquisitions, earning the rank of number 1 in Europe for third level completion. This is reflected in our global standings, where we are in the top ten best educated countries in the world. 50% of people between the ages of 30-35 in Ireland have completed third level education. Currently there is a quarter of a million students in third level education, with 30% of these studying STEM courses. Its figures like these which showcase why Ireland is a hotbed for emerging Technology companies looking to capitalize on our skill labor force.
With the Irish Government implementing its Future Job program, continuing to progress our nation into the 21st century and beyond, it certainly is an exciting time to be studying and entering the computing world. As the industry constantly adapts to changes to new technologies and trends, the onus is on us to change with the times, or risk being left in its wake.
Navigating the Tech Industry 