By Debbie McGoldrick

Ireland’s status as a go-to destination was firmly solidified October 20-21 in New York at the Living and Working in Ireland jobs fair hosted by Irish employment agency FÁS (Foras Áiseanna Saothair), as an estimated 5,000 visitors made their way to the Affinia Hotel in Manhattan to check out the opportunities on offer from the Celtic Tiger and its booming economy.

The two-day event attracted huge interest – at one point on the Friday evening, the line waiting outside was stretched over a block – from a varied mix of attendees, including Irish natives, Irish-Americans, and those with ethnic backgrounds from a variety of other nations. Early estimates are that roughly 80 percent of those who visited the fair were non-Irish-born.

Irish Minister for Labor Affairs Tony Killeen formally opened the event on behalf of the Irish government, and he offered some impressive statistics that clearly indicate how prosperous Ireland has become.

“Even as recently as 1988, 40,000 people left Ireland to come to the U.S. for a job,” Killeen pointed out. “But the country they left has been totally transformed. When they left, the unemployment rate was 18 percent, now it’s just over 4 percent. And the long-term unemployed figure stands at just 1.4 percent.

“What we’re saying is, the opportunity is there for these people to come back, and we would welcome them back with open arms.”

As Europe’s fastest growing economy, many plum jobs are going unfilled because of a lack of available workers at all skill levels. Killeen pointed out that last year, the economy created 92,000 new jobs in a variety of sectors, but was only able to fill half of them because of a worker shortage.

“It’s been an extraordinary turnaround, a huge transformation,” Killeen said.

The minister paid special tribute to the Irish who were forced to leave their native country during hard times. “We have begun to realize that we owe a debt of gratitude to them,” he said.

“They left Ireland somewhat reluctantly. We want to show them what we have to offer now.”

That offer also extends to non-Irish, Killeen said. “We would welcome U.S. citizens,” he stated. “We have new work permit legislation linked to having a job in Ireland, and jobs are available in a range of areas.” Indeed, the Irish Consulate booth at the fair was one of the busiest during the weekend, with Americans requesting information on how to secure legal status in Ireland – a happening that would have been almost unheard of not many years ago.

Testimony to the new and exciting Ireland was also offered by Rody Molloy, the director general of FÁS who attended the event. “Our main task used to be finding jobs for people,” Molloy said.

“But now that has changed dramatically. Now we are trying to find people to fill jobs. We need skilled people.”

Irish Consul General in New York Tim O’Connor also noted the changed times. “This is an experience we’ve never had in Ireland. The notion that Ireland has to come to New York to find people to fill jobs is fantastic. We hope it’s a sign of a new Ireland, an Ireland of prosperity and peace.”

FÁS organizers were thrilled with the attendance and response the event received, and are looking at options for holding a similar exhibition next year.

For more information on employment opportunities in Ireland, visit www.fas.ie.