Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 October 2025
50. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether under Pillar 3 of the Making Remote Work Strategy, which commits to developing national data on the frequency and incidence of remote work, if the data is collected on counties where remote workers are located and therefore benefit from the practise of remote work. [52435/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent data from the Central Statistics Office show that in the second quarter of 2025, over 1 million persons reported working from home at least some of the time. Within this, 555,500 persons said that they were “usually” working from home (i.e. more than half of the time). This is down from a peak number of 774,300 persons in 2021. There were 457,600 persons who were “sometimes” working from home (i.e. at least one hour in the reference period), a number that has been increasing – see Tables 1 and 2. This data are available from the CSO’s quarterly labour force survey and can be accessed here: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/labourmarket/labourforcesurveylfs/
Table 1: Employment, classified by working from home, thousands
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Usually work at home |
477.0 |
774.3 |
643.0 |
547.6 |
553.6 |
555.5 |
|
Sometimes work at home |
253.8 |
178.4 |
279.4 |
360.5 |
399.3 |
457.6 |
|
Never work at home |
1,428.0 |
1,419.0 |
1,672.6 |
1,767.9 |
1,794.1 |
1,795.6 |
|
Not stated |
0.0 |
10.5 |
6.3 |
6.8 |
7.2 |
9.3 |
|
Total |
2,161.3 |
2,382.2 |
2,601.2 |
2,682.7 |
2,754.2 |
2,818.1 |
Note: CSO Labour Force Survey, data taken from quarter 2 in each year.
Table 2: Employment, classified by working from home, %
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Usually work at home |
22.1 |
32.5 |
24.7 |
20.4 |
20.1 |
19.7 |
|
Sometimes work at home |
11.7 |
7.5 |
10.7 |
13.4 |
14.5 |
16.2 |
|
Never work at home |
66.1 |
59.6 |
64.3 |
65.9 |
65.1 |
63.7 |
|
Not stated |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Total |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Note: CSO Labour Force Survey, data taken from quarter 2 in each year.
A regional breakdown is also available for the same classifications of employment by remote working status – see Tables 3, 4 and 5. Table 3 shows employment for persons “usually” working at home with Table 4 reporting those “sometimes” working at home. In respect of the former, Dublin unsurprisingly dominates with 39% of workers in this category. For the latter, a similar ratio applies with 38% of workers “sometimes” working at home in Dublin. In Table 5, a breakdown of those persons who “never” work from home is shown. Of the 1.8 million persons who never work from home, a quarter were in Dublin.
Table 3: Employment - usually working at home – by region, thousands
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Border |
30.5 |
44.4 |
36.5 |
30.0 |
26.8 |
27.1 |
|
Dublin |
172.0 |
318.3 |
265.4 |
212.4 |
216.7 |
214.4 |
|
Mid-East |
60.4 |
108.2 |
88.5 |
79.5 |
81.2 |
82.7 |
|
Midland |
22.2 |
38.1 |
33.1 |
29.5 |
23.7 |
26.8 |
|
Mid-West |
43.1 |
60.5 |
46.5 |
38.9 |
42.2 |
43.2 |
|
South-East |
40.4 |
50.9 |
44.7 |
35.1 |
43.7 |
40.1 |
|
South-West |
69.0 |
93 |
80.3 |
76.2 |
74.2 |
75.1 |
|
West |
39.4 |
60.9 |
48.1 |
45.9 |
45.1 |
46.1 |
|
Total |
477.0 |
774.3 |
643.0 |
547.6 |
553.6 |
555.5 |
Note: CSO Labour Force Survey, data taken from quarter 2 in each year.
Table 4: Employment - sometimes working at home - by region, thousands
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Border |
9.9 |
14.2 |
17.3 |
17.9 |
23.7 |
24.8 |
|
Dublin |
102.1 |
52.3 |
90.4 |
126.0 |
156.1 |
173.9 |
|
Mid-East |
42.0 |
26.9 |
42.6 |
55.4 |
58.4 |
68.5 |
|
Midland |
9.4 |
10.8 |
15.1 |
19.5 |
20.3 |
15.2 |
|
Mid-West |
19.1 |
18.2 |
24.9 |
29.0 |
35.2 |
49.8 |
|
South-East |
18.1 |
17.6 |
24.4 |
28.4 |
23.5 |
25.8 |
|
South-West |
31.4 |
24.7 |
40.3 |
51.8 |
54.6 |
64.7 |
|
West |
21.7 |
13.8 |
24.5 |
32.4 |
27.5 |
34.9 |
|
Total |
253.8 |
178.4 |
279.4 |
360.5 |
399.3 |
457.6 |
Note: CSO Labour Force Survey, data taken from quarter 2 in each year
Table 5: Employment – never working at home - by region, thousands
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Border |
115.4 |
127.4 |
144.5 |
155.4 |
158.6 |
162.8 |
|
Dublin |
386.3 |
343.8 |
423.2 |
466.7 |
460.1 |
451.3 |
|
Mid-East |
213.7 |
207.7 |
248.4 |
264.3 |
264.5 |
252.2 |
|
Midland |
97.5 |
92.5 |
111.1 |
110.3 |
115.4 |
115.9 |
|
Mid-West |
142.8 |
152.4 |
180.2 |
186.9 |
189.1 |
181.7 |
|
South-East |
120.2 |
129.5 |
146.6 |
156.1 |
160.2 |
173.0 |
|
South-West |
212.3 |
216.0 |
251.1 |
252.8 |
266.9 |
271.1 |
|
West |
139.8 |
149.8 |
167.6 |
175.4 |
179.3 |
187.7 |
|
Total |
1,428.0 |
1,419.0 |
1,672.6 |
1,767.9 |
1,794.1 |
1,795.6 |
Note: CSO Labour Force Survey, data taken from quarter 2 in each year
The Government continues to monitor the impacts of new ways of working. For example, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is co-funding to the Working in Ireland Survey which is being carried out by University College Dublin. This is the second iteration of the Survey, first undertaken in 2021, and aims to interview several thousand persons across Ireland about their experiences of working life - including remote working. This work is underway with the main outputs from the survey expected in 2026.
In addition, the Department of Taoiseach has requested that the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) undertake research into the Evolution and Impact of Remote and Hybrid Working in Ireland. A working group has been established to oversee the research, which is expected be completed by mid-2026.
There has been a significant long-term shift in attitudes to remote and hybrid working, and flexible working arrangements more broadly, amongst both employers and workers since the pandemic. Acceptance of remote, hybrid and flexible working is high, and the evidence suggests that remote working is here to stay.
Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, re-affirms this commitment to promoting flexible working arrangements that benefit both workers and employers. Development and delivery of the National Remote Strategy was overseen by the Remote Work Interdepartmental Group, based in my Department.
The Government's commitment to promoting remote work is also evident through initiatives like the National Hub Network, facilitated by Connected Hubs. This initiative plays a vital role in supporting the National Remote Work Strategy by providing accessible, well-equipped remote working spaces throughout Ireland. With 393 hubs across the country, and plans to expand to 400 by the end of 2025, Connected Hubs is helping to build vibrant local economies, revitalising communities and offering diverse services to remote workers, SMEs, and start-ups. These hubs are essential in enhancing labour market participation and promoting sustainable, flexible work options in line with Government policy.
The Connected Hubs network is a key driver in Ireland’s push to support remote work and regional development. Aligned with policies like Our Rural Future and the forthcoming National Hub Strategy, the initiative empowers individuals to work remotely while staying rooted in their communities. Hubs provide essential infrastructure and services, from co-working spaces and conference facilities to specialist resources like podcast studios and maker spaces. Beyond workspace provision, they offer vital business supports such as mentoring, start-up accelerators, and sector-specific programmes. By promoting innovation and collaboration, Connected Hubs is shaping the future of work while contributing to balanced regional growth and sustainable development across Ireland.
