Data
02 January 2026
Ireland’s Tourism Workforce Gains Momentum with Renewed Focus
Data
02 January 2026
Adventure tourism
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism
Cultural tourism
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The latest research underscores substantial strides in stabilizing Ireland’s tourism workforce, yet highlights the necessity for strategic approaches to ensure continued growth and sustainability.
Failte Ireland
Failte Ireland
Topics
Ireland
Academic / Research and VET Institutions
Business Support Organisation
Company with 250 or more employees
Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce
SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)
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Specific types of tourism
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Adventure tourism
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Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism
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Cultural tourism
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Ecotourism
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Education tourism
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Festival tourism
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Gastronomy tourism
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Health and medical tourism
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MICE tourism
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Mountain tourism
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Religious tourism
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Rural tourism
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Sports tourism
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Urban/city tourism
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Wellness tourism
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Transition Pathway Strategic Areas
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Changes in tourism demand and opportunities
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Equal and fair tourism jobs
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Funding and support measures
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Governance of tourism destinations
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Tourism strategies
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Training opportunities
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Business activities
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Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
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Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism
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Air passenger transport
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Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks
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Events catering and other food services
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Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities
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Gardens and nature reserves activities
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Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation
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Hotel and similar accommodation
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Mobile beverage services
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Mobile food services
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Museums
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Operation of historical sites
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Other
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Other accommodation
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Other amusement and recreation activities
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Other food and beverage services
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Other holiday reservation services
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Other tourism transportation activities
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Rail Passenger transport
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Recreational and sport activities
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Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)
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Road passenger transport
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Tour operator activities
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Travel agency activities
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Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport
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Fáilte Ireland’s 2025 Tourism Careers Labour Market Research provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Ireland's tourism workforce, aiming to track recovery and identify areas for improvement post-pandemic. Conducted with over 1,100 employers and employees, the study examines recruitment challenges, retention rates, employee sentiment, and working conditions within the sector.
This research is vital as it measures progress made since the pandemic, revealing significant improvements such as increased ease in hiring managers and retaining chefs, and growing employee commitment to tourism as a long-term career path. Such improvements are crucial for the sector's competitiveness in attracting and retaining talent amidst broader economic demands.
Despite these successes, challenges persist. A notable perception gap exists between employer efforts and worker acknowledgment of pay improvements, reflecting a need for improved communication and understanding. Furthermore, there is a call for enhanced strategies in employee training and development, as lack of resources continues to hinder small businesses.
Progress has plateaued over the past year, signaling urgency for stakeholders to collaborate on strategic initiatives that align expectations and foster employee growth. This research underscores the successes and persistent challenges in rebuilding Ireland's tourism sector workforce, necessitating a strategic approach to futureproof the industry. For further information on this research, visit Fáilte Ireland's Research page.
#Sustainable tourism #Community engagement #Destination management #Tourism development #Employee development #Stakeholder engagement
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