The latest updates that matter to part-time workers, students, newcomers and the employers who hire them. Every story is summarised in our own words and credited to the original source, with a link so you can read it in full.
Last updated: 20 October 2026
Employment law
Public sector workers strike over pay as talks stall
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers took strike action on 14 October 2026 after the previous public service pay agreement expired in June without a replacement. Unions want increases that keep pace with inflation and have said the €1.2 billion set aside in Budget 2027 for a new deal falls short. Two days earlier, unions had turned down a Government invitation to talks, saying it did not show a change in position.
Why it matters: schools, non-urgent healthcare and many public offices were disrupted, and the outcome will shape pay expectations across the wider jobs market.
Sources: The Irish Times, reporting by Emmet Malone and Pat Leahy (12 October 2026); The Journal, live coverage (14 October 2026)The Irish Times ↗The Journal ↗
Pay & tax
Budget 2027: what changes for employers
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment confirmed that the national minimum wage will rise by 79 cent an hour. The planned 2029 timeline for moving to a living wage has been removed. The weekly pay threshold at which the higher rate of employer PRSI applies goes up from €552 to €600, and extra funding is going to the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the modernisation of the employment permits system.
Why it matters: employers of part-time staff should plan payroll and rosters for the new minimum wage from January.
Source: Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Government of Ireland, press release (7 October 2026)enterprise.gov.ie ↗
Pay & tax
Budget 2027: minimum wage to reach €14.94 an hour
The adult minimum wage will increase from €14.15 to €14.94 an hour from 1 January 2027. Workers also benefit from a €125 increase in the personal, employee and earned income tax credits, and the income level at which the higher 40% tax rate starts rises by €2,500 to €46,500. For students, the maximum student contribution fee falls by €150 to €2,350.
Why it matters: a full-time minimum wage worker will earn roughly €30 more a week before tax, and part-time workers gain in proportion to their hours.
Source: The Irish Times, reporting by Sarah Burns and Katie Mellett (6 October 2026)The Irish Times ↗
Jobs market
Unemployment holds at 5% as youth rate edges up
Official figures put the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 5.0% in September 2026, the same as in August, with 149,500 people unemployed. The rate for 15 to 24-year-olds rose slightly to 12.5%. The statistics office notes that the figures for recent months are estimates and may be revised.
Why it matters: the jobs market remains steady overall, but young people continue to face a much higher unemployment rate than older workers.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Monthly Unemployment September 2026 (30 September 2026). Also reported by Martin Claffey, Irish Examiner.cso.ie ↗Irish Examiner ↗
Students
National survey highlights financial pressure on students
A new report from the Higher Education Authority, based on around 16,000 student responses, finds that financial pressure is a central part of student life, with income usually coming from a mix of paid work, family support, savings and public funding. Accommodation is students' largest area of spending, and nearly half still live with their parents during term. Student numbers have grown by 6.8% since the last survey in 2022.
Why it matters: part-time work remains an essential source of income for many students, which makes flexible, fairly paid roles important.
Source: Higher Education Authority (HEA), article by Caroline Mahon on the EUROSTUDENT 9 report (23 September 2026)hea.ie ↗
Immigration
Employment permit occupation lists updated
The Government confirmed 32 changes to the lists of jobs eligible for employment permits, including roles added for Critical Skills and General Employment Permits and the renewal of 15 existing quotas. Separately, the quota of 292 permits for hospitality management roles (including restaurant, hotel, catering and bar managers) was filled in April, and new applications for those roles could not be accepted.
Why it matters: employers recruiting from outside the EU should check which roles are currently eligible before starting an application.
Source: Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, employment permits notices (28 April and 29 May 2026)enterprise.gov.ie ↗
Research
Research: minimum wage rises did not cost low-paid jobs
A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute found no evidence that recent minimum wage increases made low-paid workers more likely to lose their jobs, although the researchers note that the increases happened during strong economic growth. The study also found that the share of under-20s paid the lower youth rates has grown, from under 20% in 2019 to 30% in 2025.
Why it matters: young workers should check their age band and pay rate, because youth rates are being used more often.
Source: Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), research by Dr Paul Redmond and colleagues, funded by the Low Pay Commission (31 March 2026)esri.ie ↗
Employment law
Statutory sick pay to stay at five days a year
The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, ruled out increasing statutory sick pay beyond five days a year, describing the door to further increases as “firmly closed”. A previous plan would have raised the entitlement to 10 days. The Government cited the cumulative cost of doing business.
Why it matters: employees continue to be entitled to 5 paid sick days a year at 70% of normal pay, up to €110 a day.
Source: Irish Examiner, reporting by Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor (2 January 2026)Irish Examiner ↗
Pensions
Workplace pension auto-enrolment has started
The new My Future Fund auto-enrolment scheme began on 1 January 2026. Employees aged 23 to 60 who earn €20,000 or more a year and are not already in a workplace pension are enrolled automatically, with matching contributions from their employer and a top-up from the State, starting at 1.5% of pay each.
Why it matters: many part-time workers will fall below the earnings threshold, but those who qualify should see deductions on their payslips.
Source: Citizens Information, a service of the Citizens Information Board, a State body (guide to auto-enrolment)citizensinformation.ie ↗
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We summarise news from official Government sources, State bodies, reputable news organisations and research institutions. Each summary is written in our own words, and the original publisher, author and date are credited with a link to the full article. All rights in the original articles remain with their publishers. Stratevera Recruitment is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, any of the organisations credited on this page.
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