Over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland
Ireland: Over-qualification rates by economic activity was 27.1 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
The most recent figure for over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland is 27.1, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland peaked at 30.2 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 27.1, in 2025.
That places Ireland 4th out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 30 | — |
| 2009 | 29.3 | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 28.9 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 30.1 | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 28.9 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 30.2 | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 29.8 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 29.2 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 28.6 | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 29.4 | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 29.6 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 30 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 29.5 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 28.6 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 28.4 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 28 | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 27.4 | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 27.1 | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.65 | 29.3 | 30 | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.47 | 28.6 | 30.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.17 | 27.1 | 29.5 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- GNI (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.6066 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GNI (current LCU), per capita 79,827 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$), annual -4.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current LCU), annual -4.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), annual growth rate 9.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0489 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Taxes less subsidies on products (current US$), per capita 6,431 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland?
- Over-qualification rates by economic activity in Ireland was 27.1 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest over-qualification rates by economic activity recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 30.2 in 2013.
- What is the lowest over-qualification rates by economic activity recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.1 in 2025.
- How does Ireland rank for over-qualification rates by economic activity?
- Ireland ranks 4th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is over-qualification rates by economic activity rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Over-qualification rates by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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