There are a wide range of roles in the Public Sector that do not require a degree. For early school leavers, entry to the civil service is typically at the Temporary Clerical Officer and Clerical Officer level. These roles involve providing administrative support within a government department and can vary depending on the employing organisation (e.g., Department of Transport, Department of Justice, etc.)

The work of a temporary or permanent clerical officer typically involves general clerical work (e.g., filing, photocopying, answering/making telephone calls, dealing with emails, reception desk duties, etc.), working as part of a team in delivering important public services while supporting line managers and colleagues, working with the latest technology to record and advance services, communicating and providing a quality public service to the people of Ireland.

Other professional and technical roles such as an engineer, solicitor, ICT Specialist etc. will require a degree usually at level 8 but in some cases a level 6 is sufficient. It’s important to check the Information Booklet that accompanies the job you have an interest in. You can start having a look at the current roles we have on offer using our Job Search feature!

For most of the roles we have on offer, you must be 17 or over at the time of advertising. However, this is not always the case so we recommend that applicants carefully read the entry requirements in the specific information booklet for a role before applying.

Most certainly not! We offer a wide range of roles that can have you working in a number of different areas. Perhaps you could take up a role for the OPW keeping Ireland’s renowned national landmarks in good nick or if you like a bit of action and adventure you can be placed in the customs department working on operations to seize drugs and disrupt the operations of organised crime gangs. You can also be out and about working with your local authority to make a change within your very own community. You may even be able to work for the office of the Taoiseach of Ireland. There really is a role for everyone in the Civil Service.

For more information on Government Departments, State Agencies and Local Authorities, please click on this Government of Ireland link.

Yes, this is one of the best things about the public sector! There are always career progression opportunities, whether it's changing what area or department you work in or being promoted to a higher grade through upgrading your skills you will never be stuck in one place. Just like in the Private Sector there are different levels of experience and seniority attached to each role. The qualifications and experience you need for certain roles differs.

The civil service grades, from Clerical Officer to Secretary General, relate to seniority and pay scales as opposed to specific roles and duties. Almost all private sector roles exist in the civil service, your grade determines your level of seniority within the organisational structure from operational activities up to senior leadership.

We're delighted you're interested in doing work experience with us! We don't have a centralised scheme in place for transition year work experience; however, a lot of departments take on students from time to time. If you are interested, it'd be a good idea to contact a department near you that you'd like to gain experience in. Here is how you can contact a department you may be interested in gov.ie.

We have a huge variety of roles on offer for school leavers, Leaving Certificate holders and college graduates with different levels of experience and interests. We’re sure you’ll find something that’s right for you! Check out our Information Hub to find out more information.

Not in any way! We are an equal opportunities employer which means we do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability or age. We are committed to recruiting people from a range of different backgrounds and we actively support those with additional requirements both during selection and in ensuring a smooth transition into the public service workforce. There are a lot of different supports in place for employees with disabilities throughout different government departments, with most departments having disability champions.

It typically involves aptitude tests as well as virtual and/or face-to-face interviews. You can find out more about the finer details of our recruitment process here

Pick whatever course you have an interest in whether that be Commerce, Computer Science, Arts, Nursing, Science, Marine Biology, the list goes on! There will be a job available in the Public Sector in almost every career sector you can think of.

You can find out more detailed information on roles we have on offer within the information booklet that accompanies each role in the Job Search function. Or alternatively check out our Careers Portal Profile.

When looking at career sectors, it is important to note that many careers are available in the Public Sector as well as in the Private Sector.

What is the difference between these two sectors you may ask?

Government-run organisations are part of what is known as the Public Sector. The public sector is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds, all working together to provide public services to the people of Ireland. We advise and assist in the running of Government Departments, Local Authorities (such as your local county council) and state agencies.

The private sector is the part of the economy that is run by individuals and companies for profit and is not state-controlled, while charities and other non-profit organisations are part of the voluntary sector.

Many careers and roles exist in more than one of these career sectors, which means that skills and experience from one sector can be utilised in the others.

Publicjobs.ie is the website where we advertise Civil and Public Service jobs. It is one the main access route for people interested in joining a career in the civil and public sector. Job seekers can apply to career opportunities through publicjobs.ie as opportunities arise. Publicjobs.ie also manage the recruitment process from application to testing, interview and job offer.

There are a wide variety of roles, types of jobs and important work that people employed in the Public Sector do. The Government of Ireland employs over 300,000 people to provide public services to Irish Citizens. These public services are split into three sections:

• Government Departments which include Education, Health, Housing, Transport, Environment and Justice amongst others (see infographic).
• State Agencies that provide services such as HSE, An Garda Síochána and RTÉ.
• Local Authorities: You might know these better as your local City or County Council.

For more visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/help/departments