CSO Innovation Survey Reveals Spread of Remote-Work Culture, Underscoring Mobility Policy Shifts

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) published its biennial Innovation in Irish Enterprises report on 22 July 2026, and tucked inside the 50-page release is fresh evidence that remote and hybrid work models have become an entrenched feature of Ireland’s business landscape. While the headline shows the proportion of firms classed as ‘innovative’ slipped to 44.9 % for 2022-24, a new module finds that 63 % of large companies and 37 % of SMEs introduced process innovations aimed at supporting fully remote or location-agnostic teams. These changes range from cloud-based workflow systems to revamping global-mobility policies so that key staff can work from overseas for up to 60 days per tax year without triggering permanent-establishment risks. The survey also notes that 22 % of enterprises now hire talent based outside Ireland on local contracts—a trend nearly unheard-of pre-pandemic—and that professional-services firms lead the way. For global-mobility managers, the data reinforce a shift from long-term expatriate assignments toward short-term projects and ‘virtual assignments’ supported by commuter visas or digital-nomad arrangements. Immigration advisers caution, however, that Irish tax residency rules still hinge on day counts, meaning remote staff who exceed 30 working days in Ireland may need a PPS number and potentially a Stamp 4 permission if non-EEA nationals. The CSO figures will feed into DETE’s forthcoming white paper on the future of work, due in October, which is expected to propose a streamlined "work-from-anywhere" notification regime similar to Portugal’s model. Employers should audit current remote-work populations and map immigration/tax exposure ahead of the consultation. The full dataset is invaluable for benchmarking mobility strategy against industry peers: the CSO offers microdata access under strict confidentiality for companies willing to participate in follow-up research.