903 tech jobs in a single week as jobs market bounces back post-election

22 Apr 2016

As balance starts to return to the Dáil (we hope), it seems like confidence is returning to business, which translates to a welcome renewal of jobs announcements.

This week alone saw 903 STEM jobs announced around the country. Of those, 400 came from a biotech investment in Meath, 200 from Waterford-based medtech firm OPKO, and 125 from digital marketing firm SLM.

Smaller (but only marginally) announcements came from Search Optics and Merck. Special mention has to go to Ralph Lauren, announcing eight new jobs to coincide with the opening of a new e-commerce hub in Dublin.

Outside of new announcements, we also looked at companies that are in a constant state of hiring.

As it’s Fintech Week here at Siliconrepublic.com, we took a look at seven of the top companies hiring in fintech, and took an in-depth look at fintech software solutions firm Fenergo.

Given that so many fintech firms are hiring right now, Hays Ireland gave us some insight into the state of recruitment in the sector, highlighting the challenges facing candidates and employers.

Giving us some insight into working in fintech, we also heard from Paul McCarron, a VP and actuary at Pramerica.

There was plenty happening outside of fintech too. This week saw the launch of the Teen-Turn programme, created by Joanne Dolan and Niambh Scullion to break gender stereotypes associated with careers in STEM and encourage more young women into that sphere.

And, finally, a group of students from a Kildare secondary school can now say, “It’s not rocket science,” with all sincerity, having won a European Space Agency (ESA) competition to design analytical equipment that could be mounted aboard a rocket and safely returned to Earth after launch.

For details on any of these stories, follow the links below.

1. 400 jobs for Meath in $400m biotech investment

Biotech giant Shire is to create 400 new permanent jobs in Piercetown, Co Meath. The company is about to begin construction of a new manufacturing operation on a 120-acre site.

2. 200 jobs created at Waterford medtech firm OPKO

200 highly-skilled jobs are to be created at the Waterford-based healthcare company OPKO Health as part of the future expansion of the EirGen Pharma facility in Westside Business Park.

3. Digital marketing firm to bring 125 new jobs to Donegal

Manchester digital marketing company SML Connect is to establish a new base that will employ 125 people at Gaoth Dobhair Business Park in Co Donegal.

4. Ralph Lauren opens e-commerce hub in Dublin

Iconic fashion brand Ralph Lauren has announced the opening of an e-commerce hub in Dublin, with the creation of eight jobs.

5. 7 top employers seeking fintech candidates right now

Ireland is becoming a powerful fintech hub as the fintech sector grows massively in Ireland. Along with that growth, as always, comes jobs.

6. Fenergo: ‘We thrive on seeing our teammates succeed’

Software solutions company Fenergo, headquartered in Dublin, is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s fintech success stories.

7. How to nab a job in the competitive fintech sector

As the financial needs of businesses and individuals have changed over the last number of years, the fintech sector has gone from strength to strength. But how has that affected recruitment? Hays Ireland takes a look.

8. How does an actuary’s day add up?

There are roles within the tech industry that can seem incomprehensible to outside observers. Few are more elusive than those in fintech. Paul McCarron, Pramerica, offers us a glimpse of a day in the life of a VP and actuary working at a fintech company.

9. Teen-Turn to combat gender stereotypes in STEM

What are you doing this summer? Well, if you’re a girl in secondary school, you might consider checking out Teen-Turn, a two-week work placement programme aimed at combating gender stereotypes.

10. Kildare school wins CanSat competition

A team of second-level students from Confey College in Kildare has won the national leg of the CanSat competition, which challenges budding engineers to build miniature satellites for future space missions.

Looking for tech jobs in Ireland? Check out our Featured Employers section for information on companies hiring right now.

Want stories like this and more direct to your inbox? Sign up for Tech Trends, Silicon Republic’s weekly digest of need-to-know tech news.

Main image via Shutterstock

Kirsty Tobin
By Kirsty Tobin

Kirsty Tobin served as careers editor of Silicon Republic from 2015 up to August 2017. When she was younger, she had a dream where she started and won a fight with a T-Rex, so she’s pretty sure she kicked butt at this, too. Passions include eating all the cake, watching more TV than is healthy and sassy comebacks.

Loading now, one moment please! Loading