The number of work permits issued to overseas professionals has surged by over 35%  this year .

Figures released by the Department of Jibs revealedthe over 80% of visas issued were for new entrants with the remaining successful applications going to renewal candidates .

So far this year Irish work permits applications granted has exceeded 8,000.

Rejected applications have almost doubled o far this year up to 1,223 .

Professionals from India received 30% of all approved applications and renewals followed by Pakistan and the US which gained 14% and 9% respectively.

The top 10 companies hiring employees from abroad are

HSE.

Google

Accenture

Intel

Infosys

Amazon

HCL

Ernst & Young

HCL Technologies

Beaumont Hospital .

This trend will continue to rise in 2017 as Ireland is suffering an acute skills shortage in all sectors