# Hire in Ireland

Source: https://overseashire.com/hire/ireland · verified 2026-10-05 · confidence high

English-speaking EU member with a deep tech and finance talent pool, a favourable corporate-tax environment and a lighter employment-cost burden than much of continental Europe. Wages are high.

## Employer cost
Employer on-costs 11.4–12.9% of gross salary. Employer PRSI Class A1 11.25% to 30 September 2026 and 11.40% for earnings from 1 October 2026 (PwC; a lower rate applies to low weekly earnings, not itemised). High adds the 1.5% employer contribution to My Future Fund auto-enrolment (from 1 January 2026) where the employee is eligible (aged 23-60, earning at least EUR 20,000 and not in a qualifying pension). Excludes paid leave, sick pay and redundancy.

| Contribution | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Employer PRSI (Class A1) | 11.25% to 30 Sep 2026; 11.40% from 1 Oct 2026 | PwC. Class S1 (proprietary directors) 0% employer. PRSI roadmap has further 0.15 point rises pencilled for 2027. |
| My Future Fund auto-enrolment (employer match) | 1.5% of gross pay initially, phased up to 6% over 10 years | Applies from 1 January 2026 to eligible employees; the State adds a top-up. Employers with qualifying schemes are exempt. |

Mandatory benefits: Annual leave of 4 working weeks (20 days); Public holidays (10); Statutory sick pay (5-10 days at 70% of pay, capped; 2026 schedule from general knowledge); Maternity (26 weeks) and parent's leave; Auto-enrolment pension contribution (My Future Fund) where eligible

## Rules
- Payroll: Weekly, fortnightly or monthly; PAYE returns submitted each pay run (real time)
- Probation: Probation up to 6 months, extendable to 12 months only in specified circumstances (Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018; general knowledge).
- Notice and severance: Statutory minimum notice: 1 week (13 weeks to 2 years), 2 weeks (2-5 years), 4 weeks (5-10 years), 6 weeks (10-15 years), 8 weeks (15+ years); contract may be longer. Statutory redundancy pay after 104 weeks' service: 2 weeks' pay per year plus one bonus week, weekly pay capped at EUR 600. General knowledge, not fetched.
- Termination: Unfair dismissal protection generally requires 12 months' service (shorter in some cases). The WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) handles claims. Fair procedures and valid reason are required.
- Working time: Average maximum 48 hours per week over a reference period; rest breaks and daily rest rules apply. Overtime premiums are by contract.
- Paid leave: 4 working weeks of annual leave (Organisation of Working Time Act 1997) plus 10 public holidays (general knowledge).
- Minimum wage: EUR 14.15 per hour for those aged 20 and over from 1 January 2026 (EUR 13.50 before); under-18s EUR 9.91, age 18 EUR 11.32, age 19 EUR 12.74 - https://wageindicator.org/work/minimum-wage/updates/2026/minimum-wage-increased-in-ireland-from-01-january-2026-january-01-2026/

## Contractors
Irish revenue and courts apply a multi-factor employment status test (Code of Practice on Determining Employment Status). Moderate risk where contractors work like employees.

## EOR
A foreign company can employ via an Irish subsidiary or branch, or an EOR. Irish Revenue registration (employer PAYE) is simple and fast. Timelines not verified.
Onboarding: EOR not verified; own entity not verified.

## FAQ
**What is employer PRSI in Ireland?** 11.25% to 30 September 2026 and 11.40% from 1 October 2026 for most employees (Class A1).

**Is there auto-enrolment?** Yes. My Future Fund started on 1 January 2026, with an employer match starting at 1.5% of pay for eligible staff.

**How many days of annual leave?** Four working weeks, plus public holidays.

**What is the minimum wage?** EUR 14.15 per hour for those aged 20 and over from January 2026.

Unverified: Lower employer PRSI rate and weekly threshold; Statutory sick-pay day count and cap for 2026; Redundancy and notice scales, probation rules from general knowledge; National Training Fund levy treatment within PRSI; Revenue pages returned 403/404; PRSI taken from PwC and secondary sources; EOR/entity timelines

Sources:
- https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/ireland/individual/other-taxes
- https://payslipiq.co.uk/ie/guides/prsi-rate-change-october-2026
- https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/money/pensions/auto-enrolment/
- https://wageindicator.org/work/minimum-wage/updates/2026/minimum-wage-increased-in-ireland-from-01-january-2026-january-01-2026/

Not legal or tax advice.