The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has identified a number of barriers deterring Irish emigrants with construction expertise from returning home. Since 2016, the CIF has highlighted a potential shortage of over 100,000 construction workers up to 2020. The CIF is calling on Government and State Agencies such as Solas to put in place recognition of qualifications gained by those in the Diaspora upon their return to Ireland.
"The Construction Industry Federation has been highlighting the difficulties faced by our returning workers as far back as 2012. Our members are reporting huge difficulties in attracting and onboarding returning emigrants into their companies because the qualifications they have gained overseas are not recognised by Irish authorities. Over 100,000 construction workers emigrated during the recession to countries such as Australia, Canada, the US, New Zealand and Dubai. Qualifications gained in these jurisdictions over the last decade are not recognised here in Ireland. We are urgently calling on the Government to address this anomaly.