Ireland Remote Work Triples
Ireland now has almost 960,000 people working from home, more than three times the pre-pandemic level according to a new Labour Force Survey. However, the data suggests a possible gradual move away from hybrid arrangements as some employers nudge staff back toward in-person work. Despite this shift, remote work remains at far higher levels than before 2020, reflecting continued demand for location independence.
- A "Work Life Balance (Right to Remote Work) Bill 2026" was introduced in February 2026 to give employees an immediate and enforceable right to work remotely where the role allows, ending an employer's ability to broadly refuse such requests. This legislation is opposed by the government, which favors the existing 2023 law that only provides a "right to request" remote work, not a right to have it granted. - The shift to remote work has influenced Ireland's housing market, with house prices in the suburbs and more remote areas growing faster than in city centers like Dublin. This trend is partly driven by remote workers in higher-paying sectors moving to rural areas, which can increase competition for housing for lower-wage, on-site workers. - A 2022 government report estimated that working from home saved employees an average of €1,103 and 93 hours of commuting time annually. Employers, in turn, could save an average of €1,492 per employee each year. - The Irish government has been promoting remote work through its "National Remote Work Strategy," which aims to make it a permanent feature of the Irish workplace to maximize economic, social, and environmental benefits. The strategy includes initiatives like investing in a network of remote working hubs to support people outside of major urban centers. - There is a noticeable disparity in the availability of remote work based on salary, with recent data showing that jobs paying over €100,000 account for more than a quarter of remote or hybrid options, while only 5% of roles paying under €60,000 offer such flexibility. - Despite the overall high numbers, there has been a slight decline in employees working remotely for three consecutive quarters for the first time since the pandemic, with a drop of 78,000 hybrid workers since early 2025. Some analysts suggest this may reflect a tightening labor market, giving more power back to employers to mandate office returns. - Hybrid models are becoming the norm over fully remote arrangements. A late 2025 survey indicated that while around 30,000 more people were working from home compared to the previous year, the growth was in hybrid setups, not fully remote roles. For many employees, a two-day in-office week is the most desired arrangement.
