Tech

Dramatic fall in number of permits issued to foreign tech workers

A 61 per cent drop in work permits granted follows recent waves of lay-offs by major companies in the technology sector

Meta, which owns Facebook, last month announced that around 18 per cent of its Irish workforce would be impacted in its latest wave of lay-offs. Picture: PA

The number of foreign tech workers being granted permits has fallen dramatically in the first five months of the year, new figures show.

Just 1,761 work permits were granted in the ‘Information & Communication Activities’ sector from January to May, down from 4,572 in the corresponding period last year, according to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The 61 per cent drop in permits comes amid high-profile job losses in the tech sector.

Meta, ...