In short: Yes — Irish and UK employers can hire overseas construction workers. Named skilled trades such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and plasterers are eligible for an Irish employment permit; general labouring and site-operative roles are on the Ineligible List. CA Recruitment confirms which of your roles qualify and manages the full DETE permit and visa process end to end.
Struggling to Find Reliable Construction Workers?
You have posted the job. You have been through the agency. The worker who was supposed to start Monday didn't show. Your existing crew is stretched thin and your foreman is fielding calls from a client who wants to know why the project is behind.
This isn't just a hiring inconvenience. When you can't staff a site properly:
- Project timelines slip and costs go up
- Existing workers are under constant pressure to cover the gaps
- Clients start asking questions you don't have good answers to
- You have to turn down new contracts you know you could handle with the right people
- Scaling up for bigger projects becomes impossible
This isn't just a hiring issue. It's affecting your timelines, your costs, and your ability to take on new work.
The Irish and UK construction labour market is not getting easier. Advertising locally, going through agencies, relying on word of mouth — for a growing number of Irish contractors, none of it is working the way it used to. The reliable workers you need are not in the local pool the way they once were.
Why Construction Companies Are Turning to Overseas Workers
More Irish and UK construction companies are looking beyond the local labour market — not as a last resort, but as a deliberate workforce strategy. Here's why:
The Local Pool Has Shrunk
Fewer people are moving into construction trades at the rate needed to meet current demand. The workers who are available often have multiple options and move quickly between employers. Reliable, long-term site workers are genuinely difficult to find locally.
Overseas Workers Show Up and Stay
Workers placed through the overseas route have relocated specifically for the role. They didn't settle for this job while waiting for something better. That commitment shows in attendance and retention — consistently better than agency or casual hires.
You Can Plan Your Workforce
When you know a worker will be on site for the duration of the permit, you can plan properly. Staffing your projects stops being a weekly crisis and starts being something you can schedule ahead of time.
Skilled and Semi-Skilled Workers Available
Overseas construction workers bring real site experience. Many have worked on large residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects across the Philippines, the Middle East, and South-East Asia. English is an official language of the Philippines — communication on site is not an issue.
Construction Roles We Help Fill
We source workers across a range of construction and site roles. Permit eligibility depends on the specific duties and DETE classification of each position — we confirm this during the free consultation and will not begin the process for any role without a clear route in place.
🏗️ General Operatives
General site support across civil, residential, and commercial projects. Duties vary by employer — we assess permit options for your specific role during the free consultation before proceeding.
💪 Skilled Labourers
Experienced workers for specialist physical site tasks requiring demonstrated competency. Permit route confirmed based on the specific duties and how the role is classified under DETE occupations.
🪚 Carpenters
First-fix, second-fix, and formwork carpenters. Overseas carpenters have worked on large residential builds, commercial fit-outs, and high-rise concrete structures. This trade qualifies for the General Employment Permit — pay must meet the Construction SEO craftsperson rate (€23.00/hour from 1 August 2025, about €46,600 per year).
🔩 Steel Fixers
Structural steel fixing and reinforcement on civil and building projects. Significant experience placing steel fixers who have worked on large-scale infrastructure projects in the Gulf. Permit eligibility confirmed per role during consultation.
⛏️ Groundworkers
Excavation, drainage, foundations, and earthworks. We source candidates with demonstrable groundworks experience and assess the permit route available for your specific job description.
🏛️ Concrete Workers
Concrete placing, finishing, and associated formwork. Role classification matters for permit eligibility — we review the specific duties and DETE classification during the consultation to confirm the available route.
👷 Site Support Roles
Stores, banksmen, general site operatives, and other support positions. We advise on permit options for these roles during the free consultation based on the specific duties involved.
If your role is not listed here, contact us — we will confirm whether a permit route exists for your specific position. For a full explanation of how the permit system works, see our Work Permit Guide.
Need Reliable Construction Workers? Let's talk.
We'll tell you honestly whether overseas recruitment is a good fit for your business and your roles. Free consultation, no obligation.
Real Results for Irish Construction Companies
Irish construction companies working with CA Recruitment have been able to stabilise their workforce and keep projects moving during periods when local hiring was consistently failing. Workers placed through CA Recruitment stay — several clients have returned for additional placements after their first experience went well.
"Finding reliable construction workers locally had become nearly impossible. CA Recruitment placed skilled Filipino workers with us who hit the ground running from day one. The whole process (permits, paperwork, everything) was handled for us. Brilliant service."
"We had been struggling to fill two pig unit positions for months. CA Recruitment found us two excellent Filipino workers within six months. They settled in immediately and the work ethic is exceptional."
We Handle the Hard Parts
When you work with CA Recruitment, you don't have to deal with:
- Searching for workers in an overseas market you've never navigated
- Sifting through applications from people who won't show up
- Understanding the employment permit system
- Preparing or submitting permit documentation
- Chasing visa timelines or coordinating travel from the Philippines
- Figuring out onboarding on your own when the worker arrives
You tell us the role, the site requirements, and what you need from the worker. We do the rest.
Sourcing & Vetting
We source candidates in the Philippines with relevant construction experience, check references, and screen against your specific site requirements before anything lands in front of you.
Shortlisting Candidates
You get a shortlist of vetted candidates, not a pile of unreviewed CVs. You interview and choose. We don't make the decision for you — we make the decision simple.
Permit Process Support
We guide you through the employment permit requirements, prepare the documentation, and manage the application process with DETE. We handle the Labour Market Needs Test where required.
Documentation Guidance
Visa applications, immigration documentation, and arrival requirements. We coordinate the process from the Philippine end so delays don't come from paperwork.
Onboarding Support
When the worker arrives, we help with registration, PPS number, and bank account setup. We stay available for the first 90 days.
Simple Process: From First Call to Worker on Site
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1
Tell Us What Roles You Need Filled
One call or WhatsApp message. Tell us the role, the site, and what you need. We ask the right questions to understand your situation and confirm whether overseas recruitment is the right route for your business.
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2
We Source and Shortlist Candidates
We source in the Philippines, screen against your requirements, check experience and references, and present you with a shortlist. We also manage the Labour Market Needs Test where it applies — 28 days of advertising on the required platforms, handled entirely by us.
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3
You Interview and Choose
You review the shortlist and interview candidates. You make the call on who you want on your site. We don't put anyone forward that we wouldn't back ourselves.
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4
We Guide the Permit and Documentation Process
We prepare and submit the DETE permit application and coordinate the employment visa from the Philippine end. DETE publishes live processing dates — we track progress and keep you updated throughout.
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5
Your Worker Arrives Ready to Start
We support the worker through arrival, IRP registration with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), PPS number, bank account, and Safe Pass scheduling. We check in during the first 90 days.
Common Concerns, Answered Honestly
Most are ready to start productive work from day one. We source candidates specifically for the duties on your site — not general applications. Workers who need Safe Pass will complete it in Ireland on arrival; it's a legal requirement for all Irish construction sites and we factor the timing into the onboarding plan so it doesn't catch you off guard. We will tell you exactly what to expect before the worker arrives.
The permit and visa process has moving parts — but from your side, it's mostly reviewing a shortlist, interviewing candidates, and signing where required. We handle the Labour Market Needs Test, permit documentation, DETE application, visa coordination, and arrival support. Most employers find it significantly simpler than expected once they understand that we carry the process, not them. If you want to understand the full picture first, our Work Permit Guide covers it in plain language.
If the worker leaves within the first 90 days — or has to be dismissed for gross misconduct — we find a replacement at no additional recruitment fee (see terms). We vet candidates carefully against your site requirements before shortlisting, and most placements work. After 90 days, a new permit process would be needed for a replacement — we can advise on that if it ever becomes relevant. Our FAQ page covers this in more detail.
For a General Employment Permit, the realistic timeline from first call to worker on site is 6 to 8 months. That includes the 28-day Labour Market Needs Test, DETE processing, visa approval, and travel. DETE processing times vary — we track the current dates and factor them into your timeline from the start. The practical answer: start now, and your worker can be on site before the next project cycle. Start later, and you will still be short in six months. The time passes either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for many construction roles. The General Employment Permit covers a range of construction trades and site roles where permit eligibility is confirmed by DETE classification. The Critical Skills Employment Permit covers professional roles including civil engineers, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, site engineers, and construction project managers. CA Recruitment confirms eligibility for your specific role during the free consultation — we won't begin any process without a clear route in place. See our Work Permit Guide for a full breakdown of both permit types.
For a General Employment Permit, the typical timeline from consultation to the worker starting on site is 6 to 8 months. This includes the 28-day Labour Market Needs Test, DETE permit processing, visa approval, and travel. DETE publishes live processing dates at enterprise.gov.ie — times vary and we track them. Critical Skills Employment Permit applications (for professional roles) skip the Labour Market Needs Test, which shortens the process.
The minimum you must pay is whichever is higher: the DETE permit threshold or the legally binding Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) rate for the trade.
- Construction SEO craftsperson rate — €23.00 per hour from 1 August 2025 (about €46,600 per year on a 39-hour week) for trades such as carpenters, bricklayers, and plasterers. Category A workers €22.32/hour, Category B €20.71/hour. Electricians and plumbers are covered by their own sector SEOs.
- €36,605 — General Employment Permit threshold (the permit floor; the SEO rate above it is what you actually pay for SEO-covered trades)
- €40,904 — Critical Skills Employment Permit minimum for professional roles on the Critical Skills list (civil engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers)
You must also pay at least the Irish National Minimum Wage (currently €14.15/hr as of January 2026) for all hours worked. Full salary requirements for your specific role are confirmed during the consultation.
Yes, for both the General Employment Permit and the Critical Skills Employment Permit. At least 50% of your workforce must be EEA nationals at the time of the permit application. There is no exemption for small businesses or companies below a certain headcount. The only exception is for start-up companies within 2 years of establishment supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland. We check your eligibility at the start of the free consultation. More detail is available on our FAQ page.
Yes. Safe Pass is a legal requirement for all workers on Irish construction sites under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. It is administered by SOLAS and must be completed in Ireland. Workers arriving from the Philippines will complete Safe Pass training after arrival — we factor this into the onboarding timeline and advise on scheduling as part of the first-90-day support.
No recruitment fee to CA Recruitment until the worker arrives and starts on your site. The main external cost is the €1,000 employer-paid DETE permit fee for a General Employment Permit of up to 24 months. All costs are explained in full during the free consultation — no surprises, no obligation to proceed. Book your free consultation here.