“I think it comes down to an educational piece. A lot of clients aren't overly familiar with contracting and when it's researched by themselves, it seems like a heavy burden to start. I think we are heading for an IT skills shortage so maybe the government could support businesses by educating them on IT contractors & loosening the restraints around working from abroad for contractors.”
“Self-employed are not appreciated whatsoever, we create the jobs and put up with huge amount of grief. Ireland is incentivising people to be employees and not leaders, this is a catastrophic error and will lead to a poorer Ireland in the future.”
“We live in a world with 21st century technology but the laws and economy is based on 19th century rules, laws and mindset. This is a huge barrier and deterrent to get more people investing on their own ideas and projects, commit to innovation, create jobs and boost the economy. Re; the government, as a highly educated workforce in a digital world independent contractors should be pushed as a sector that would allow Irish people to obtain more work from overseas companies while remaining in Ireland and spending our earnings here.”
“I think the contracting space could scale so much more with more information and media coverage on the benefits of contracting, especially with talent who need visas to work in Ireland.”
“The Government does not fully value contractors in this country. More needs to be done to make things more attractive for contractors, from an expenses perspective etc. People are extremely thin on the ground at the moment, so things need to change, and quickly.”
“They are a flexible and important part of the workforce and I don’t think its recognised how important it is to have a contractors market to give competitive edge.”
“More information about the benefits of contractors is to be shared with companies.”
“I think the temporary model should be promoted in the Irish economy. With high levels of employment and a shortage of skilled professionals in the Irish market we need to look at alternative options.”
“I believe some companies are unaware of how contracting works and the benefits it can have for their organisation - there needs to be more engagement with companies on a national scale as to show how contracting will work for them.”
“The world of work has changed. A more fluid approach to freelance working is needed. There is a huge disparity in regards to welfare available to employees and freelancers.”
“The biggest objection we have at job offer stage is Mortgage Application. The government should try harder to influence the lenders that contracting does not equal instability or risk.”
“When the market slows down cost is always the first thing that is looked at, and as such, permanent headcount has to decrease. Contractors offer a great interim solution in these instances.”
“My issue with the jobs market is just one thing, ageism.”
“Increase the incentive (tax-wise) for contracting work.”
“I believe the government can tax the worker less to improve the quality of life. Companies need to stop thinking of employees as just numbers and understanding that they are not assets, they are people. I am looking to become a contractor as well as self-employed so I don't depend on companies and jobs in the future.”
“Allow for travel expenses from home to office. Make it easier to claim for working from home and increase allowance.”
“The Government should set up a department to both encourage and assist Contractors as they are contributing greatly to our economy. Given the nature of the business of contracting I believe greater assistance should be given in Tax credits particularly when it comes to expenses. One of the key attractions of FDI is that we have a flexible contracting workforce, and as major projects usually take a minimum of two years there should be greater tax breaks for our contracting workforce. Such tax breaks will also attract even more highly skilled people into contracting.”
“Retired people represent a valuable skill base / resource unutilised in the economy. Their pension often brings them into the top tax rate for marginal income which acts as a disincentive to work. An additional Tax credit for retired people contributing to the economy through work might encourage more retired people to work part time.”
“I completed contract/project work at end of last year having worked in this area since 2021. Really keen to take up further contracts however difficult to get opportunity details. Suggest a reference listing. My contract was direct approach from financial institution.”
“The prevailing cultural mindset in Ireland poses challenges for self-employed individuals. As a foreigner in this country, securing professional opportunities requires not only strong referrals but also a notable Irish track record. This stringent criterion often leads companies to overlook valuable business prospects, neglecting the potential of hiring skilled professionals because they lack Irish experience. Despite my extensive contributions to business development in various countries, I am hindered in sharing my wealth of knowledge and experience in Ireland due to the lack of sufficient local experience. Like numerous highly skilled individuals, I am contemplating a move from Ireland as the current system appears closed to foreigners. It is essential for the Irish community to reconsider this mindset, as many talented professionals are choosing to emigrate due to the restrictive nature of the current Irish conception.”
“Some people are reluctant to contract as a professional due to job security, fear of unknown etc. Having worked on both sides (permanent and contractor). It is important to stress how easy it is to transition between either roles.”
“Provide greater support in relation to sick leave, redundancy support etc especially to contractors earning at the lower end of the scale.”
“From a government point of view - a lot of work has been done over the years to assist the self - employed - but alot more help is required”
What Recruiters Say
“There is a talent shortage in Ireland within Pharma. Younger Engineers have emigrated to mainland Europe… where the tax rate is 33% for EXPATS. Not financially viable to bring in overseas talent... issue of accommodation for incoming talent. Highly skilled Engineers in Europe and the UK don't see Ireland as a location… even though there are plenty of projects.”
“Government should hire more contractors into the public sector and make it a quicker/easier process. Public sector could benefit a lot from increased contractors.”
“I think it needs to be clear to both employer and contractor of their status, limitations, and changes coming down the line.”
“Not enough people know of contracting, the benefits, or the worries - there's not enough public information. It is not our job as a recruiter to teach from scratch there should be a base level provided to the public …more needs to be done. ”
“We get the same questions every year from contractors about mortgages. It would be great if Government or Revenue could share information & promote contractors or the gig economy.”
“I think Visa status' have a big part to play too. A lot of Stamp 1/ CSV holders are undervalued by employers and also cannot operate as self-employed, which adds to the skills shortage as they cannot move employers for 2 years after obtaining this.”
“The biggest objection we have at job offer stage is Mortgage Application. The government should try harder to influence the lenders that contracting does not equal instability or risk.
The contractors are leaving Ireland currently as they are not getting the pay rates they want in Ireland.”
“The visa process in Ireland takes too long. Sometimes we can't source a person with a specific skill for a contract here in Ireland, UK & EU, and we can't look outside the EU or UK due to the restrictions.”
“There is still a taboo around job security in contracts, getting a mortgage while contracting etc! Perm roles as we have seen from 2022-2023 are also not secure or guaranteed.”
“Visa's taking far too long to process. People are in the country 4-5 months before they get their visa and would have been able to contract in that time.”
“I think it comes down to an educational piece. A lot of clients aren't overly familiar with contracting and when researched by themselves it seems like a heavy burden to start contracting. I think we are heading for an IT skills shortage so the government could support businesses by educating them on IT contractors & loosening the restraints around working from abroad for contractors.”
“I believe the market has had a massive shift in the past year however I can see signs of regrowth. I predict 2024 will be a very good year for contracting in Ireland.”
“I believe some companies are unaware of how contracting works and the benefits it can have for their organisation - there needs to be more engagement with companies on a national scale as to show how contracting will work for them.”
“Make it easier from a reporting and taxation perspective to operate as a contractor. The contractor community form an integral part of businesses' recruitment and talent strategies.”
“Allow for more visa types to be able to work as a contractor and allow for more flexibility in terms of remote working. These suggestions would greatly expand the pool of candidates we can work with.”
“The recruitment environment is fiercely competitive so this will also be a key factor in firstly maintaining the contractors that we have but also trying to recruit others.”
“From a financial standpoint- a lot of candidates who are on the lookout will only consider permanent roles for a variety of factors- the main one being mortgages. Only now has there been a solution to help contractors in the mortgage process but more can be done to help them out and increase the market.”
“I feel more help or support should be given to contractors when changing from being in a Permanent job. They need to be putting pressure on the banks to allow contractors get better advice or offer programs that can secure contractors being able to get a mortgage.”
“I think it should be promoted a lot more. It should be seen as the new way of working as opposed to a stop gap and a limiting factor when looking for loans/mortgages etc.”
“I think the contracting solutions companies offer the support needed - contracting should be made more normalised and a viable option for employees”
“Benefits to contracting is flexibility. We seem to be way behind other nations when it comes to the promotion of contract. We find most candidates are risk adverse or unaware of the low risk taking a contract is. Also, a big factor is that companies see CVs as "jumpy" if they have multiple contracting roles.”
“Government could provide upskilling to independent contractors to assist them in attaining certifications in their relevant fields.”
“Same questions every year from contractors about mortgages, it would be great even if Gov or Revenue could share information and promote contractors / gig economy.”
“The government has certainly given more attention to contractors and the gig economy in recent years but they have been slow to develop in some areas and ultimately some barriers remain for those who may wish to explore flexible employment.”
“The Government are unable to see the difference between a Deliveroo rider and a Project Engineering Manager on €300ph leading a €1bn+ project. They are all lumped into one "Bucket". There needs to be a better recognition that contracting is a career choice and not a role taken because there are no other options. The government need to support the development of a professional "Consultant" pool. As we become a more expensive country to do business in companies will find it more difficult to afford to keep/carry very highly skilled professionals on their staff and like most advanced economies we need to create a pool of skills that can move to where the need is.”
“There needs to be access to benefits from the Government in order to protect contractors more going forward and ease fears of those hesitant to switch.”
“They are a flexible and important part of the workforce and I don't think its recognised how important it is to have a contractors market to give competitive edge.”
“There is always more that can be done. It is not promoted as much as the more popular PAYE route of employment.”
“I don't want the laws to change to the way it has in the UK.”
“I feel it is still lucrative to get into the contract market so most people do it for financial gain, the mortgage thing was a concern historically but ultimately its just the unknown or lack of information here that has caused concerned for people in the past.”
“I think there are good tax breaks for contractors but this needs to be more information from government on this.”
“There are a range of benefits and incentives for contractors, more often companies are the challenge.”
What Clients Say
“When the market slows down cost is always the first thing that is looked at, and as such, permanent headcounts decrease. Contractors offer a great interim solution in these instances.”
“The number of contractors hired relative to the number of full-time employees can affect the company culture. The location of the contractors, particularly if they are remote, can impact the company both negatively and positively. Negatively, in terms of having loyalty to the organisation. Positively, in bringing skills to the organisation. Contactors can bring a skillset which can be applied to specific projects, without taking on the cost of a fulltime employee.”
“The loyalty of some contractors to the business they are suppling their services to can be very transactional at times, this can then tarnish the reputation of other contractors.”
“Just because an individual is employed as a contractor, does not mean they are completely self-sufficient and can be ignored. If viewed & managed correctly they can be extremely beneficial. The organisation's level of understanding of the work, subject matter, and expertise of the contractor is important to help this.”
“Hiring contractors helps clients with cost saving, achieving set goals quicker, acquiring skills more easily, and increasing professional social circles dramatically.”
“Apart from the performance and cost benefit of employing contractors, they may not have any loyalty to the organisation and consequently not contributing positively to the culture or knowledge base of the organisation.”
“I have joined a small company from a Global Multinational, and I am trying to introduce how using contracting work helps to grow quickly and support the needs of the business.”
“Make them feel appreciated and part of your group. The 'them' and 'us' approach is a sure-fire way to fail. Everyone likes to feel accepted; empowerment is key. The more the buy in, the better the results.”
“Make it easier from a reporting and taxation perspective to operate as a contractor. The contractor community form an integral part of businesses' recruitment and talent strategies.”
“Ensure that Irish laws are clear and updated to address the rights and obligations of independent workers. Regularly review and adapt regulations to the evolving nature of work in the gig economy.”
“Government needs to define what a contract worker is and cement their rights.”
“Make them feel appreciated and part of your group. Them and us approach is a sure fire way to fail. Everyone likes to feel accepted, empowerment is key. The more the buy in, the better the results.”
“Client organisations can be hit or miss in terms of how contractors are treated; some organisations basically treat them the same as permanent employees while other organisations don't include them in social events, Xmas parties etc. Being more inclusive benefits everyone”
“Apart from the performance and cost benefit of employing contractors, they may not have any loyalty to the organization and consequently not contributing positively to the culture or knowledge base of the organization.”
“Govt. should set up a body to nurture, standardize, and provide clear guidelines for the contracting market in Ireland.”
