The upcoming release of Ireland’s 1926 Census of Population, the first conducted by the Irish Free State, is expected to deliver more than historical insight. Researchers say it will highlight how dramatically employment has shifted over the past century, from locally rooted jobs to a workforce that now operates across borders and time zones.
Workforce specialists at Agility EOR say the centenary provides a useful benchmark for how hiring models have evolved, as international and cross-border recruitment becomes standard practice for many growing companies.
On April 18, 2026, the full census records will be published online for the first time under Ireland’s 100-year privacy rule, opening detailed household and employment data to historians, genealogists, researchers, and families. The most recent census currently available to the public dates from 1911, making this one of the most significant archival releases in decades.
The 1926 Census recorded more than names and addresses. It documented occupations, industries, employment status, and employer types across the country, covering nearly three million people in the early years of the State. It shows a workforce that was largely local and sector-bound, with limited mobility and few cross-border opportunities.
Today, the structure of work looks very different. Remote and distributed teams are common across technology, finance, life sciences, and specialist sectors, with international hiring now part of a normal growth strategy rather than long-term expansion planning.
Companies can also hire abroad without establishing overseas entities by using Employer of Record (EOR) services, which manage local employment, payroll, tax, and compliance requirements.
“By examining the 1926 Census returns, we hope to uncover how closely work was tied to geography and local industry, and to identify which professions have since disappeared,” said Scott Winter, Co-Founder and Chief HR Director at Agility EOR. “Today, businesses can hire the best person for a role regardless of location. Employer of Record models make that possible without the cost and delay of setting up a local entity, while still meeting all employment and payroll obligations.”
For workforce specialists, the census anniversary provides a clear measure of how far employment structures have progressed, from locally recorded occupations on paper forms to globally managed teams operating in real time.
For more information on Agility EOR or expanding into Ireland, visit https://agilityeor.com/countries/eor-ireland
