Ireland has seen significant growth in remote working in recent years, particularly with the acceleration of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, the Irish government launched the “Making Remote Work” national strategy which aims to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish labour market and promotes a blended approach to work, combining remote and office-based work.
Aside from this policy, what are the other factors that accelerated the growth of remote work in Ireland and are there really plenty of opportunities in this space?
Factors affecting work from home jobs in Ireland
Remote Working Policies
The Irish government has been actively promoting policies and initiatives to support remote working. These include introducing legislation to provide employees with the right to request remote work, developing guidelines on remote work for employers, and providing funding for remote work hubs and broadband infrastructure.
Broadband Connectivity
Ireland has made progress in improving its broadband infrastructure to support remote work. While urban areas generally have good connectivity, efforts are being made to enhance broadband access in rural regions to enable more widespread remote working opportunities.
Remote Work Hubs
Remote work hubs, also known as coworking spaces or remote work centres, have become popular in Ireland. These hubs provide flexible workspaces with amenities and infrastructure suitable for remote workers, fostering collaboration and networking opportunities.
Employer Adoption
Many Irish employers have embraced remote working as a viable option for their workforce. In fact, research shows that one in three employers are hiring fully remote work. Both large multinational companies and small to medium-sized enterprises have implemented remote work policies, allowing employees to work from home or remotely for a portion of their working week.
Remote Work Support
Organisations such as Remote Work Ireland and Enterprise Ireland offer support, advice, and resources to employers and employees navigating remote work arrangements. They provide guidance on implementing remote work policies, best practices, and training for managers and employees.
Digital Marketing and Tech Sector
Ireland’s digital and tech sector has been at the forefront of remote work adoption. Many technology companies have a strong remote work culture, offering opportunities for software developers, IT professionals, digital marketers, and other tech-related roles to work remotely.
Different types of remote working jobs and sectors employing them
Do you work in IT, accounting, consultancy, recruitment, or legal? Can you work from anywhere if you are part of these industries? Can you find work from home jobs in Ireland or in Europe? We have compiled a list of the most popular remote working jobs and some well known companies employing for different positions.
IT and Software Development
Remote work is highly prevalent in the IT and software development sectors. Professionals in these fields often have the necessary skills and tools to work remotely, making it easier for them to collaborate across borders and time zones. Some companies hiring for IT remote roles include Automaticc and Gitlab.
Customer Service and Support
Many companies in Europe have embraced remote customer service and support teams. These roles can involve responding to customer inquiries, providing technical assistance, or handling complaints via phone, email, or online chat platforms. Some companies hiring for customer service and support remote work include Concentrix and TTEC.
Content Creation and Digital Marketing
Content creators, including writers, graphic designers, videographers, and social media managers, can work remotely to produce engaging content for websites, blogs, social media platforms, and marketing campaigns. Some of the companies hiring for marketing or content creation remote work include Buffer and Toptal.
Translation and Localisation
Remote translation and localization services are in demand, given the diverse linguistic landscape in Europe. Translators and interpreters can provide language services remotely, helping businesses communicate effectively across different markets. Some of the companies hiring for remote translation and localisation services include SDL and Gengo.
Project Management
With effective collaboration tools and project management software, many project management roles can be conducted remotely. Project managers oversee and coordinate teams, ensuring the successful delivery of projects and meeting deadlines. Companies that hire remote project managers include Basecamp and Asana.
Sales and Business Development
Remote sales professionals play a crucial role in expanding a company’s reach and acquiring new clients. They can work from anywhere in Europe, reaching out to potential customers, conducting virtual meetings, and closing deals remotely. Companies such as Shopify sometimes hire remote sales people.
Online Education and E-Learning
Remote working is prevalent in the education sector, particularly in online tutoring, e-learning platforms, and educational content development. Teachers and instructors can conduct classes and create educational materials remotely. Companies that include remote learning workers or tutors include VIPKid and Coursera.
Administrative and Virtual Assistance
Many administrative tasks, such as scheduling, data entry, travel arrangements, and customer support, can be handled remotely. Virtual assistants provide administrative support to businesses and individuals from a remote location. Companies that hire remote virtual assistants include BELAY.
It’s important to note that the remote working landscape is continually evolving in Ireland, and the specific remote work policies and practices may vary across industries and organisations. If you are considering remote work in Ireland, it’s advisable to research specific companies, industries, and regional factors to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current remote working situation.
How do you find remote working jobs?
What are the best ways to find jobs that allow you to work remotely? One way, of course, is to join online communities and forums. You can even research Slack channels that share job postings or offer advice related to remote work opportunities.
One way to be sure if a company offers remote working roles is to also go to their website and check if they mention a remote working policy. From there, you can also network with current employees or relevant people in the industry and seek advice if the positions do not explicitly state that they offer remote work.
You can also attend industry events, join relevant online communities, and engage in discussions to expand your network and increase your chances of hearing about remote job openings.
Last but not least, you must also explore online job boards. There are some that specialise specifically for remote work but you have to bear in mind that bigger job hosting websites such as Recruit Ireland also have pages dedicated to Remote Work Jobs. Happy remote job hunting!
