Business social network LinkedIn is to invest in a new international headquarters in Dublin that has the capacity to handle the doubling of its workforce from 600 people to 1,200 people.
Construction work on the new international headquarters will begin in May 2015 with building works expected to be completed at the beginning of 2017.
The news comes just days after it emerged social networking giant Facebook is to double the size of its base in the Dublin Docklands area with an adjoining office, to take its total space up to 250,000 sq feet.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton TD said the new investment by LinkedIn brings huge knock-on benefits for Ireland “including extra jobs in supply and service companies, as well as a huge boost to our reputation.”
Since setting up in Dublin in 2010 LinkedIn has grown from three to 600 workers at its current location in Wilton Place.
“With 1.2m members, Ireland is now one of LinkedIn’s top markets when it comes to member penetration,” said Sharon McCooey, senior director at LinkedIn Ireland.
“For that reason we are extremely pleased to be announcing a further investment in Ireland and an expansion of our operational presence here. Dublin is now home to a very vibrant digital technology sector and with that comes an important ecosystem for companies like ours as well as the strong pool of talented digital professionals that we need access to in order to further grow our operations in the future.”
The quality of the local workforce
IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan said LinkedIn’s decision to expand in Ireland was due to the quality of the people it hired here.
“LinkedIn’s investment speaks volumes about the talented workforce in Ireland, one of the key factors in their decision to make a long term commitment here,” Shanahan said.
“Not only is Ireland one of the best places to do business in the world, but it is also at the heart of a thriving technology sector. Apart from being a major employer in Ireland, LinkedIn is helping to strengthen business relationships by connecting influential business people across the globe.
“We look forward to continue to work with LinkedIn into the future and helping them to fulfil their ambition in Ireland.”
Key facts about LinkedIn’s Irish membership:
- The biggest sector represented in terms of employment is the hi-tech industry, followed by the construction sector and the financial services sector;
- More Irish LinkedIn members were educated in University College Dublin than any other university in Ireland;
- The three most prominent current employers appearing on member’s profiles are the HSE, AIB and Bank of Ireland;
- The top three titles used on profiles by Irish members are Owner followed by Director and then Manager;
- The most prominent skill listed by members is management followed by sales and then training;
- The three most popular groups are the Irish Executives Group, the Irish Business and Professional Network and the Engineers Ireland Official Group.
LinkedIn image via Shutterstock
