*Karen Sweeney, Regional Communications Executive of Western Development Commission and Allan Mulrooney, Head of Communications, WDC and AEC Development. Photograph: James Connolly
A new online jobs portal aimed at attracting professionals and their families to make new lives in Co. Clare and the West of Ireland has been launched.
Launched by the Western Development Commission (WDC), job seekers will be given the chance to land a new post on the free-to-use portal Westernjobs.ie and provide employers information on the talent pool available to them in a particular county in the Western region.
Lower housing costs are referenced by the WDC as they encourage people to make a permanent and viable move to the West of Ireland, a transition which is made possible through remote working.
Research carried out by the WDC in January found that 50 percent of large employers in the region were faced with a limited skills pool for open positions while 32.65 percent experience difficulty finding senior staff.
Hundreds of new jobs have been announced in the Western region in 2021 and there are currently open roles available across sectors such as ecommerce, MedTech, IT and engineering. Companies currently hiring in the West of Ireland include Boston Scientific, Cora Systems, GSK, Aran Biomedical, Abbott, Aerogen, Harmac Medical, SITA Aero, Intel, SL Controls, Frankli and Beckman Coulter.
For job seekers, Westernjobs.ie provides a one-stop-shop to give them all the information they require about opportunities in the West and the benefits of moving there. It will allow them to stay updated on relevant positions based on their skills and preferences and will enable them to connect with employers and agencies across the region.
The WDC says insights and real-time data from the site will also help officials in the future to make more informed planning and development decisions affecting the region. Employers in the region will be able to create company profiles and promote job opportunities targeted at talent that they know is interested in working in the region.
Commenting on the launch of the Westernjobs.ie portal, Western Development Commission CEO Tomás Ó Síocháin believed it was “unique in that it will allow people to signal an interest to move west. Research carried out by the WDC indicates that while many people have already moved west over the last year, a significant number are considering the move west, if the right opportunity presents itself.
Senior Director of Beckman Coulter, Orlaith Lawler confirmed that the East Clare employer will be using the new portal. “We are delighted to feature the open roles that we have available here at Beckman Coulter on westernjobs.ie. The portal will act as a one-stop shop to help attract the best talent to the West of Ireland. At Beckman Coulter, we have numerous opportunities for talented, ambitious people”.
