How the US election might affect FDI in Ireland

How the US election might affect FDI in Ireland
Ireland’s job market is highly interconnected with global trends and events. There are a number of key factors impacting the employment industry in Ireland at present, including the upcoming US election and potential impact on FDI, geopolitical conflicts, climate initiatives, uncertainty regarding policy and regulatory changes and interest rates and inflationary impacts.
How these directly impact talent looking for opportunities within US companies headquartered in Ireland will be sector dependent. Certain sectors, for example, will be impacted more significantly by policy and regulatory changes including technology, pharmaceutical and financial services industries.

The challenges for acquiring talent may include:

  • Changes in visa policies and global mobility restrictions;
  • Cautious spending that could result in longer, more complex hiring processes coupled with the risk that companies will prioritise hiring local talent in the US due to shifting labour policies or cost-saving measures;
  • A shift to contract opportunities, a trend we have already witnessed, reflecting employers’ desire for flexibility and a cautious approach to permanent hires; and
  • Increased competition among jobseekers for a reduced number of opportunities, potentially leading to longer lead time to secure new roles.
The stance companies are taking on hybrid and remote working arrangements remains in flux. We saw the recent announcement from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy regarding a mandatory full-time return to office. Whether others follow suit remains to be seen.

Organisations could adopt permanent remote working policies. While this may open up opportunities for a broader talent pool and flexible working arrangements, professionals in the Irish market would likely face increased competition from the global talent pool, potentially leading to downward pressure on salaries as companies seek cost-effective labour.

With potential changes in the US economic environment post-election, given their established presence in Ireland, US companies with operations here may need to adjust their salary structures to remain competitive in attracting top talent, particularly if remote work opportunities expand.

A focus on enhancing their existing localised talent acquisition strategies, coupled with a strong emphasis on employer branding to showcase corporate culture and values, will help to make positions more attractive in a competitive market.

Accountancy Ireland invited Catherine Drysdale and two other accountants to weigh in on how the outcome of the US presidential election might impact the future of foreign direct investment in Ireland, exploring potential economic shifts and changes to the corporate tax regime. Read the full article in Accountancy Ireland here>>>

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