Early Careers Employer Survey Publication 2025

6. Conditional Willingness & Future Openness • Encouragingly, some employers said they would consider sponsorship on a case-by-case basis, or are open to exploring it in future, especially if the right candidate emerged. • Others already offer supportive documentation or informal help with visa applications, even if they don’t provide full financial sponsorship. 7. Additional Constraints • Some noted sector-specific barriers, such as the need for professional registrations (e.g. CORU in healthcare). • A few mentioned location challenges, travel requirements, or concerns around language proficiency for certain roles. Conclusion The data shows that visa sponsorship for graduates remains limited, primarily due to cost, policy, and structural mismatches with visa criteria. However, there is a small but growing openness among some employers to revisit this in the future. Increased clarity on visa processes, streamlined sponsorship options for graduate roles, and stronger institutional support could help expand opportunities for international graduates entering the Irish labour market.

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