Construction employment in Ireland has risen since the COVID-19 pandemic, but job vacancies have also grown.
Over the past five years, our construction sector has experienced a notable expansion in its workforce, with employment rising from 126,800 in Q1 2021 to 181,500 in Q1 2025 — a robust increase of 43% (see Figure 7). This growth indicates strong demand within the sector, driven by ongoing efforts to address our infrastructure and housing needs.
Alongside this substantial rise in employment, the number of job vacancies has also surged, from just 500 in 2021 to 2,600 in 2025. The sharp increase in vacancies highlights ongoing challenges construction firms are facing in sourcing candidates with the appropriate skills and experience.
As the sector strives to scale up activity, the skills gap is becoming increasingly apparent. We need to address these shortages through targeted training, apprenticeships and recruitment initiatives to sustain sectoral growth and meet Ireland’s ambitious development targets as set out in the revised National Development Plan 2025.