Housing crisis impacting Cork firms' ability to get staff, says Chamber

The cost of housing is having a growing impact on recruitment and retention of staff, Cork businesses have said.

Cork Chamber has called for a significant expansion of access to cost rental housing, including an increase in current income eligibility thresholds in Cork as part of its Budget 2027 priorities.

It follows the results of a new survey of Cork Chamber members which found that 40% of employers believe access to affordable cost rental housing would support their organisation's ability to attract and retain employees.

Employers favour increasing household eligibility thresholds, with the majority saying they should rise from €59,000 to €75,000, as 35% of employers say current cost rental eligibility rules have limited the ability of their employees to access housing.

A total of 75% of employers rated the affordability of homes to rent in Cork city as ‘unaffordable’ or ‘somewhat unaffordable’.

Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said: “Access to housing has become an increasingly important consideration for Cork employers seeking to attract and retain the workforce they need to grow.

“This survey provides a clear message from the business community that the current Cost Rental thresholds are not reflecting the realities facing working households in Cork.” 

As well as calling for cost rental income thresholds to be increased., he said: “We also need to look at the wider housing mix.

“In Cork, cost rental is almost exclusively being delivered through brownfield apartment developments in the city.

“Ultimately, we need to attract private investment into the housing market and reduce the reliance on the government subsided support of the sector.

“Cork is Ireland’s fasting growing city and the economic engine of Munster. If we want businesses to continue to invest, grow and create employment here, we must ensure that the people they need can afford to live here too.”