APNI Calls for Urgent Action to Address Employment and Economic Challenges Facing Migrants in Ireland
- APNI Team
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: 28th March 2025
Dublin, Ireland – The African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI) is calling on corporate leaders and companies and the Irish Government to take urgent action in response to the recent ESRI report highlighting persistent economic challenges facing migrants in Ireland. While employment rates have improved, the report reveals significant disparities in wages, job opportunities, and housing affordability, particularly for highly skilled migrant professionals.
While the ESRI 2025 report highlights progress in migrant employment rates, it also underscores alarming disparities. Migrants, including Black/Afro-Irish professionals, remain disproportionately affected by higher poverty rates and housing costs despite higher educational attainment than the Irish-born workforce. Nearly 37% of migrants spend over 30% of their income on housing, compared to just 9% of Irish-born residents. Additionally, the underemployment of highly skilled migrants continues to hinder their economic advancement, from the APNI 2024 Career Day survey, 69% of the Black and Afro-Irish community are highly skilled and educated, 49% are in roles below their qualification.
As a network committed to advancing the careers and businesses of Black/Afro-Irish community, APNI urges leaders to take immediate steps to close these gaps:
Commit to Inclusive Hiring & Career Progression – Ensure fair recruitment, recognition of foreign qualifications, and leadership pathways for migrant professionals.
Strengthen DEI Initiatives – Move beyond tokenism by embedding real policies that foster equity, cultural inclusion, and sponsorship programs for migrant talent.
Bridging Employment Gaps – Expanding career development programs to support skills recognition, mentorship, and employer engagement. Enhancing programs that bridge the gap between migrant qualifications and employment opportunities, ensuring skills are fully utilised.
Address Pay & Economic Equity – Conduct internal audits to identify and eliminate disparities in pay and career advancement.
Recognising Foreign Qualifications – Partnering with educational bodies to accelerate the accreditation of international qualifications.
Engage in Meaningful Partnerships – Collaborate with APNI and other organisations to create career accelerator programs, mentorship programs, upskilling initiatives, and employment opportunities for migrant professionals.
Ireland’s economic success depends on an inclusive workforce where talent is recognised and rewarded fairly. We urge employers, policymakers, and stakeholders to work with us to create pathways for professionals and talents of ethnic minority backgrounds to thrive. said Edima Inyang, President of APNI.
APNI invites corporate partners, policymakers, and the Irish society to join us in creating a fairer, more inclusive Ireland for migrant professionals.
For media inquiries, interviews, or collaboration opportunities, please contact:
APNI Team
About APNI:
The African Professional Network of Ireland (APNI) is a leading social enterprise dedicated to advancing the careers and businesses of Black/African professionals in Ireland. Through career development programs, business support, and strategic advocacy, APNI empowers professionals to achieve success while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Irish workforce.
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