THE announcement of over 350 digital sector jobs in Ballsbridge and Dublin 8 has been hailed as a signal that the recovery is finally filtering down to the real economy.
In a week when the Dublin Web Summit attracted over 20,000 visitors to the RDS for Europe’s biggest tech event, Amazon revealed plans to create 300 jobs and the Digital Hub Development Agency announced 52 new high-skilled jobs over the next six months.
Amazon, which is celebrating 10 years in Dublin, said its new jobs include data centre technicians, software engineers and customer support staff at its expanded offices in Ballsbridge.
“Amazon has been an active contributor to the Dublin technology community for a decade and during this time we have been extremely impressed with the creativity and strong technical talent available in the country,
? said the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Werner Vogels.
“By expanding our presence in Dublin we will further accelerate the growth of some of the most exciting businesses we have at Amazon and support for our customers here in Europe and around the globe.
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CEO at IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan, described the new jobs as
“a huge vote of confidence
? in Amazon’s highly skilled Irish workforce and the talent pool available to them in this country.
“We wish Amazon and their employees continued success,
? he said.
Dublin South East TD and Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Kevin Humphries, joked that the 300 jobs would
“further kindle
? Ireland’s growing tech sector.
“I am delighted that Amazon, based in Ballsbridge in my constituency, will expand their team here, adding to the 1,400 staff already employed in Ireland,
? he stated.
“These highly skilled roles will add to Dublin’s reputation as an international hub for the digital sector, and ensure that people working in ICT have a range of opportunities open to them.
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Minister Humphries’ comments were echoed by his constituency and party colleague, Ruairi Quinn.
“We have had significant success in the past year in attracting quality FDI jobs to Ireland, and to Dublin in particular,
? he said.
“In the last two days we have seen at least 700 jobs being announced across the country, a great deal of which are for highly skilled positions.
“Today’s news is another boost for the city and confirms Dublin’s reputation as a European capital for IT.
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The announcement of Amazon’s jobs coincided with news that 14 companies have joined the enterprise cluster at Dublin’s Digital Hub in Dublin 8 during the third quarter of 2014.
The new companies, six of which are from outside Ireland, collectively employ 64 people at present and are expected to create 52 additional high-skilled jobs over the next six months.
CEO of the Digital Hub, Gerry Macken, said:
“With 85 companies now working from our campus, it is clear that investment in the marketplace is moving along at a steady pace and the Digital Hub is continuing to grow and add value to the wider economy.
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