How People Make Money in Ireland: 4 Main Channels

1. Employment (90%+)

Unemployment ~4.9%; median income €35K. Top jobs: retail, nursing, cleaning, teaching, engineering.

2. Self-Employment

Business owners, freelancers, contractors, landlords, investors.

3. Government Benefits

Social welfare, child benefit, disability allowance, state pension (contributory/non-contributory).

4. Windfalls & Assets

Inheritance, property sales, lottery (rare), capital gains.

Ireland’s open, FDI-driven economy (tech, pharma, finance) supports high wages but also high living costs, especially housing in Dublin.