AmCham Launches FDI Insights Survey Revealing 95 Percent of US Firms Would Choose Ireland Again

95 percent of US multinationals operating in Ireland say they would choose Ireland again if making their first European investment decision today.

This is according to AmCham’s first FDI Insights survey of 2026, which was published earlier this week. 

The survey reveals that nine in ten respondents report their corporate headquarters view Ireland as a positive location for investment, while half of respondents identified talent as the primary competitive advantage that originally encouraged their organisation to invest here.

The capability of the Irish workforce has evolved for many US multinationals in Ireland over the last five years. 68 percent of respondents report greater capability in digital and A.I. skills, while 56 percent point to expansions into higher-value, more complex functions and the adoption of international responsibilities. A further 54 percent highlight improved managerial and operational experience within their Irish operations.

However, 56 percent reported that they have experienced a skills gap in their organisation. The most pronounced shortages are in machine learning and A.I., identified by 32 percent of respondents, followed closely by engineering, cited by 29 percent. This is particularly significant given that 78 percent of respondents said that the availability of highly skilled talent is extremely important to sustaining FDI employment in Ireland.

Meanwhile, 85 percent of survey respondents say that they increased or maintained the number of employees in their Irish operations over the last year, with 88 percent predicting similar trends for the coming year.

AmCham members identified cost competitiveness and housing as the greatest challenges for Ireland to overcome for their organisation to invest and expand here.

Meanwhile, looking to the future, AmCham member companies consider ensuring the continued availability of a skilled talent pool to be the greatest risk for Ireland over the next five years, with 24 percent identifying it as the top risk. Housing continues to be a cause for concern, with 16 percent viewing it as the number one risk for FDI over the period, with uncertainty regarding changes to global tax policy or trade agreements also cited by 16 percent of respondent. This was followed by geopolitical instability and potential trade tariffs, both at 13 percent respectively.

Read the full survey results online here