Information Technology (IT)

Over 90,000 people are employed in the IT sector in Ireland, which has an annual turnover well in excess of €51 billion. Ireland is the second largest software producer in the world. This is one industry that continues to flourish with new job opportunities being created all the time.

IT graduates can work for dedicated IT companies, or in the IT department of businesses and organisations. Dedicated IT firms may specialise in areas such as software development, networking, manufacturing, e-learning or multimedia. The other possibilities are many and varied, and include engineering, business, education, the media, manufacturing, logistics, retail, construction, science, law and medicine. Working in IT means you have to keep updating your skills and qualifications. Most IT professionals take extra training and gain additional certification in new languages, applications and systems to keep in step with the business.

Salaries vary depending on which area you move into, but software developers and systems analysts start on €25,000 – €28,000, while support engineers make about €18,000 – €22,000 at first. Salaries tend to rise relatively quickly with experience and success, and IT managers or consultants can earn up to €60,000 or more a year.

Job roles in this area include the following:

Hardware Designer
Software Engineer
Systems Analyst
Network Administrator
Software Developer
Network Engineer
Computer Support Technician
Programmer
Database Engineer

Further Resources

Irish Computer Society (ICS)
Crescent Hall
Mount Street Crescent
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 644 7820
Web: www.ics.ie
Email: info@ics.ie

Irish Internet Association (IIA)
The Digital Hub
10-13 Thomas Street
Dublin 8
Phone: 01 453 5707
Web: www.iia.ie
Email: info@iia.ie