AI job risk in Ireland
An analysis of 435 occupations covering 3,130,140 workers in Ireland finds that the employment-weighted average exposure to generative AI, measured on a scale from 0 (no exposure) to 10 (maximum exposure), is 5.3. This score indicates the extent to which job tasks are susceptible to being automated or augmented by generative AI technologies. It is important to note that exposure is not synonymous with job loss; rather, it highlights where AI is most likely to first reshape tasks, potentially changing how roles are performed rather than eliminating them entirely.
Occupations with the highest exposure, scoring 9 or 10 out of 10, are predominantly clerical and administrative roles such as Accounting and Bookkeeping Clerks and Data Entry Clerks, as well as some IT roles like Software Developers. These jobs involve routine data processing, documentation, and coding tasks that generative AI can efficiently handle. In contrast, the least exposed occupations, scoring 0 or 1, are manual and physical roles such as Cleaners, Labourers, and Kitchen Helpers, which require dexterity, mobility, and interpersonal interaction that current AI cannot replicate. By industry, the highest average exposure is in IT & Digital (8.2) and Business, Finance & Legal (8.1), while sectors like Craft and Related Workers show minimal exposure.
20 jobs most exposed to AI in Ireland
| # | Occupation | Code | Exposure | Average annual pay | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting and Bookkeeping Clerk | 4311 | 10/10 | €37,833 | 15,000 |
| 2 | Statistical, Finance and Insurance Clerks | 4312 | 10/10 | €38,000 | 12,000 |
| 3 | Data Entry Clerk | 4132 | 10/10 | €31,667 | 8,000 |
| 4 | Typist and Word Processing Operator | 4131 | 10/10 | €31,667 | 1,400 |
| 5 | Clerical Support Workers Not Elsewhere Classified | 4419 | 9/10 | €31,833 | 45,000 |
| 6 | Administrative and Executive Secretaries | 3343 | 9/10 | €38,000 | 35,000 |
| 7 | Software and Applications Developers and Analysts Not Elsewhere Classified | 2519 | 9/10 | €69,167 | 35,000 |
| 8 | General Office Clerk | 4110 | 9/10 | €32,167 | 32,000 |
| 9 | Receptionist | 4226 | 9/10 | €30,167 | 25,000 |
| 10 | Secretary (General) | 4120 | 9/10 | €32,167 | 18,000 |
| 11 | Applications Programmer | 2514 | 9/10 | €62,500 | 18,000 |
| 12 | Web and Multimedia Developers | 2513 | 9/10 | €62,500 | 15,000 |
| 13 | Inquiry Clerk | 4225 | 9/10 | €32,833 | 12,000 |
| 14 | Payroll Clerk | 4313 | 9/10 | €37,500 | 12,000 |
| 15 | Contact Centre Salesperson | 5244 | 9/10 | €32,167 | 12,000 |
| 16 | Contact Centre Information Clerks | 4222 | 9/10 | €34,333 | 12,000 |
| 17 | Financial Analyst | 2413 | 9/10 | €67,500 | 8,500 |
| 18 | Advertising and Marketing Professionals | 2431 | 9/10 | €56,667 | 8,500 |
| 19 | Financial and Investment Adviser | 2412 | 9/10 | €67,500 | 8,000 |
| 20 | Systems Administrator | 2522 | 9/10 | €61,667 | 8,000 |
20 jobs least exposed to AI in Ireland
| # | Occupation | Code | Exposure | Average annual pay | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Craft and Related Workers Not Elsewhere Classified | 7549 | 0/10 | €35,833 | 3,500 |
| 2 | Building Construction Labourer | 9313 | 1/10 | €36,833 | 65,000 |
| 3 | Domestic Cleaner and Helper | 9111 | 1/10 | €27,500 | 28,000 |
| 4 | Manufacturing Labourers Not Elsewhere Classified | 9329 | 1/10 | €31,667 | 25,000 |
| 5 | Fast Food Preparer | 9411 | 1/10 | €27,667 | 15,000 |
| 6 | Kitchen Helper | 9412 | 1/10 | €26,000 | 15,000 |
| 7 | Forklift Operator | 8344 | 1/10 | €35,167 | 12,000 |
| 8 | Hand Packer | 9321 | 1/10 | €30,500 | 12,000 |
| 9 | Painter and Related Worker | 7131 | 1/10 | €41,333 | 5,500 |
| 10 | Structural Metal Preparers and Erectors | 7214 | 1/10 | €43,667 | 5,200 |
| 11 | Butcher, Fishmonger and Related Food Preparer | 7511 | 1/10 | €32,167 | 5,000 |
| 12 | Plasterer | 7123 | 1/10 | €44,167 | 5,000 |
| 13 | Earthmoving and Related Plant Operators | 8342 | 1/10 | €43,667 | 5,000 |
| 14 | Floor Layer and Tile Setter | 7122 | 1/10 | €38,000 | 4,500 |
| 15 | Bricklayer | 7112 | 1/10 | €41,000 | 4,000 |
| 16 | Sheet Metal Worker | 7213 | 1/10 | €44,000 | 3,500 |
| 17 | Spray Painter | 7132 | 1/10 | €36,167 | 3,000 |
| 18 | Cement, Stone and Other Mineral Products Machine Operators | 8114 | 1/10 | €36,667 | 2,800 |
| 19 | Concrete Finisher | 7114 | 1/10 | €43,667 | 2,500 |
| 20 | Window Cleaner | 9123 | 1/10 | €32,167 | 2,500 |
AI exposure by industry
| Industry | Occupations | Employed | Avg. exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT & Digital | 20 | 221,300 | 8/10 |
| Business, Finance & Legal | 58 | 607,000 | 8/10 |
| Government & Public Sector | 21 | 89,520 | 6/10 |
| Engineering & Infrastructure | 42 | 185,650 | 6/10 |
| Education & Community | 24 | 254,000 | 6/10 |
| Creative, Media & Personal Services | 41 | 85,150 | 5/10 |
| Healthcare & Care | 42 | 276,900 | 5/10 |
| Hospitality, Retail & Tourism | 46 | 543,100 | 4/10 |
| Transport, Logistics & Mining | 31 | 257,550 | 4/10 |
| Agriculture & Environment | 36 | 217,200 | 4/10 |
| Trades & Construction | 74 | 392,770 | 2/10 |
Explore more
Frequently asked questions
How much AI risk do jobs in Ireland face?
Across 435 occupations covering about 3,130,140 workers, Ireland has an employment-weighted average generative-AI exposure of 5.3 on a 0–10 scale — an elevated level. A higher score means a larger share of a role's day-to-day tasks can already be performed or assisted by AI.
Which jobs in Ireland are most at risk from AI?
The most exposed occupations in Ireland are Accounting and Bookkeeping Clerk, Statistical, Finance and Insurance Clerks, Data Entry Clerk, Typist and Word Processing Operator, Clerical Support Workers Not Elsewhere Classified. These are roles built around routine information work — writing, data handling and analysis — that large language models already handle well.
Which jobs in Ireland are least exposed to AI?
The least exposed occupations include Craft and Related Workers Not Elsewhere Classified, Building Construction Labourer, Domestic Cleaner and Helper. Physical, hands-on and in-person tasks are much harder for current AI to automate, so these roles score low.
Does a high AI exposure score mean the job will be lost?
No. Exposure measures how much of a role's tasks AI can perform or assist with — not whether the job will disappear. A high score flags where AI is most likely to reshape tasks first, and where workers may benefit from building complementary skills.
Which industries in Ireland are most exposed to AI?
By employment-weighted average exposure, the most exposed industries in Ireland are IT & Digital, Business, Finance & Legal, Government & Public Sector.
How is the AI exposure score calculated?
Every occupation is scored 0–10 by combining two published research datasets — the ILO's Working Paper 140 index and OpenAI's ‘GPTs are GPTs’ task-exposure study — mapped onto Ireland's official occupation classification and ranked on a single global percentile scale so scores stay comparable between countries.
Methodology & sources
Every occupation is scored 0–10 for generative-AI exposure by combining two open, published research datasets — the ILO's Working Paper 140 index and OpenAI's GPTs are GPTs task-exposure study — mapped onto Ireland's official occupation classification, then ranked on a single global percentile scale so the numbers stay comparable between countries. Tile area is the size of each occupation's workforce, from official statistics. Full methodology & data sources →
Download / share this map
