Construction Industry Federation membership means access to a network of contractors who have been navigating labour shortages for years. The companies that crewed their projects successfully in 2023 and 2024 increasingly did so by combining domestic sourcing with international hiring through the employment permit system, and that group is now bigger and more experienced. If you are a CIF member considering international hiring for the first time, the peers who have done it are the best evidence that it works.
What construction employers are actually hiring
Based on the deals that have closed in Recruitroo’s pipeline, Irish construction employers are hiring: welders and fabricators, carpenters and joiners, bricklayers and plasterers, M&E trades, plant operators and drillers, HGV mechanics, and civil and structural engineers. The permit routes for all of these are covered in individual guides on this blog. The starting point is the construction hiring overview.
The four things that separate successful hirers from stuck ones
- They decide early: the contractors who have the best outcomes start the LMNT at project award, not three months into a delayed programme. The 28-day advertising period is fixed; the only variable is when you start it.
- They have Trusted Partner status: registration with DETE as a Trusted Partner halves permit processing time. It is an annual overhead worth every cent for a contractor hiring more than two or three people a year.
- They use the referral network: CIF connections, quarry associations, county business networks - most of the best construction hires we have seen came through firms that heard from a peer that it worked. The referral loop is real.
- They plan retention from day one: after nine months, a General Employment Permit holder can move to another employer in the same occupation. Contractors who think about retention from week one have a different attrition profile from those who discover it at month eight.
First-time international hirer checklist
CIF member making your first international hire?
Recruitroo works with Irish construction firms of all sizes, from family-owned regional contractors to large civils employers. We build the hiring plan, run the LMNT and permits, and support arrivals through to settling in.
Frequently asked questions
Does CIF membership help with employment permits?
CIF membership does not directly affect the permit process, but the industry networks it provides are some of the best referral channels in the sector - many successful international hirers in construction found their first introduction through industry peers.
Where do I register as a Trusted Partner employer?
Trusted Partner registration is through DETE’s EPOS system. An agent or the Recruitroo team can assist with the registration process.
Is international hiring only for large contractors?
No. Small to medium contractors with five to fifty employees are regular users of the permit system. The process is the same regardless of company size; the batch sizing and 50/50 maths just need to be planned relative to your specific workforce.
This guide is for Irish construction employers considering international hiring as of September 2026. Permit rules, thresholds and lists change - check current DETE guidance or ask Recruitroo before committing to a hire plan.