Over Four in Five AmCham Respondents Say Global HQs View Ireland Positively for Investment
An AmCham survey of US multinational members conducted in the last week found that the US multinationals community continues to view Ireland as an important location for strategic investment and optimism remains high for the future of their businesses in Ireland. Employment in US multinationals operating in Ireland increased by almost 35,000 on this time last year, and now stands at 245,000 (211,000 in November 2024). Since 2023, Ireland has also moved from the 7th to 5th largest FDI investor into the US, demonstrating the two-way nature of the business relationship.
Over 4 out of 5 member companies said their corporate headquarters continues to have a positive view of Ireland as an investment or growth location based on their company’s experience in Ireland in the last year.
When asked about the top challenges facing their businesses, 33% said housing is the greatest challenge for Ireland to overcome in order for their company to invest and expand in Ireland. 18% said cost competitiveness is the number one challenge, and 16% cited enhancing R&D tax incentives.
When asked what national commitment their organisation sees as offering the greatest opportunity for Ireland’s growth and investment environment, 27% said the publication and implementation of the new Housing Strategy, 24% said progressing major national transport infrastructure projects such as the MetroLink, and Bus Connects, and 21% said the increase of the R&D tax credit to 35%.
When asked what business areas represent the greatest opportunity for AI adoption for their organisation in Ireland – 89% said data analytics and decision support, 18% said generative AI applications (eg, content creation, coding, design) and 15% said financial modelling, compliance or risk management. AmCham members were also asked what R&D infrastructure Ireland should prioritise to strengthen its innovation eco-system over the next 5 years – 45% said digital and AI test environments, 15% said shared university-industry innovation spaces and 15% said life sciences and health research facilities. 100% of respondents stated that enhancements to Ireland’s R&D infrastructure are important to increasing Ireland’s competitiveness and collaboration between research and industry, with 88% saying it is extremely or very important.
In relation to talent development, while 88% said Ireland’s education and training system is effective in preparing the workforce for future skills needs, 50% of respondents said their organisation is experiencing difficulty filling vacancies in their operations in Ireland, although this is down from 69% in November 2024. 44% of survey respondents identified the most significant barrier to filling vacancies as being a shortage of specialist skills, with 36% saying housing is the most significant barrier. In November 2024, 46% said shortage of specialist skills and 20% said housing, once again putting the emphasis on the need to make progress on housing infrastructure.
31% of respondents ranked housing as the greatest risk to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ireland over the next 5 years. 16% said changes to global tax policy or trade agreements is the greatest risk, while public infrastructure and geopolitical instability were each chosen by 13% respectively. Trade tariffs were cited as the 6th biggest risk to FDI in Ireland over the next 5 years, down from third position in July 2024.
Views on the EU
When asked what Ireland’s key priorities should be during its 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union, 41% said advancing EU competitiveness, productivity, and innovation policy, 22% said pursuing regulatory simplification and reducing the administrative burden on businesses, while 19% said strengthening the EU Single Market and reducing barriers to cross-border trade. Survey respondents believe the EU should focus its efforts on simplifying regulation and reducing the administrative burden on business, with 34% saying there should be simplification in relation to digital and data governance rules (e.g. GDPR, AL Act, Data Act); 22% saying simplification is needed on environmental and climate reporting requirements and 22% citing R&D innovation funding.
Paul Sweetman, CEO of AmCham said “2025 has been a significant year. Members have faced the uncertainty and real challenges posed by geopolitics, trade and tariffs. Much effort has been spent in dealing with these issues and in AmCham, we have been side by side with our members in navigating this difficult path. However, over the course of 2025, a real sense of optimism has emerged. Our members are ready to grow their footprint and impact in Ireland.
The figures speak for themselves. In 2024, US multinationals in Ireland employed 211,000 people. In 2025, that figure is now 245,000. Ireland is today the 5th largest source of foreign direct investment into the United States, up from 7th in 2023. But to support continued investment and growth into the future, we must address competitiveness. Ireland is now the 7th most competitive country in the world, according to the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness Index. We are 2nd in the world when it comes to ‘attitudes and values’, an essential component in driving business expansion, talent development and innovation. However, the picture is not so positive when it comes to delivering basic infrastructure, with Ireland coming in 44th. In 2024 we were 38th. We know from our member survey that housing, energy, infrastructure and costs present significant challenges to their ability to grow and expand, with many of these factors ranking above tariffs as the greatest risk to continued US FDI in Ireland over the next five years. Housing is the number one challenge for our members and while we welcome Government’s announcement of Housing for All 2, we must emphasise the need for speed in addressing this urgent issue, which we know resonates across all of Irish society. We recognise the Government’s commitment to infrastructure investment in the National Development Plan, but again emphasise the need for speed and the removal of the planning barriers to progress.”
You can view the full November 2025 FDI Insights survey here