Mobile workforce enjoys myriad opportunities

Michel Nicolo is physical proof of the changing nature of the labour market in the Republic. Originally from Paris, Mr Nicolo moved to London a few years ago to take up a job with British Telecom. Last year he heard of an opportunity with Xerox in west Dublin. He jumped at the chance and arrived in Dublin a few weeks ago.

Three jobs and three countries in almost as many years shows quite an impressive degree of mobility which he attributes to: "speaking good English and having technical knowledge".

Xerox's call centre reflects the increasing flexibility of the labour market in Europe. For those with language or technical skills finding professional work abroad is easier than ever before.

More than 40 per cent of the 1,000 plus employees at Xerox's Dublin plant come from abroad. Most are European, although some herald from as far afield as Sri Lanka, South Africa, Japan and Cuba.

"Over the last three years there has been quite a shift in the labour market in Ireland," says general manager of Xerox Ireland, Mr Aidan Donnelly. "There is a skills shortage in languages here so you have to look outside Ireland." High-profile international recruitment drives by FAS and the relaxation of working visa requirements demonstrate the Republic's eagerness to attract an international, skilled workforce. But what do foreign workers make of Ireland and their new jobs?

"There isn't really a good quality of life here because of the bad public transport," says Mr Nicolo.

His two work colleagues, Ms Sandy Barbier also from France and Mr Silvia de la Cogiga from Spain, agree. "Yesterday I spent an hour waiting for a bus and only got home at 8.00 p.m., I lost all my free time," says the latter.

Transport and housing are among the most serious issues facing new recruits when they come to the Republic, according to Mr Donnelly. "The people we're bringing over here have a pro-service mentality and they just can't understand the Irish system," he says. "Our biggest problem is how to address this."

With hundreds more staff due to join Xerox shortly, employees will have to live further from the plant compounding the transport and accommodation problems.

All three of Xerox's new recruits find Dublin prices more expensive than their native cities. Accommodation costs are substantially higher and most employees can't afford to live in a one-bedroom apartment as they could at home.

The job at Xerox was the single most important factor which brought both Mr de la Cogiga and Mr Nicolo to the Republic. They were attracted to the fast track promotional possibilities at the company and seem happy with their work and the opportunities for career advancement with the company. "If you start a job in Spain then you will have to stay in it for five or six years before getting a promotion but it's much easier here and you can develop yourself," says Mr de la Cogiga.

Mr Nicolo points to the US system at Xerox: "they need what you bring to the company, it's far from your own culture but it's a new start and you're a part of it," he says.

"You meet a lot of people who are unmarried and don't have any kids so it's easy to go out and have fun," says Ms Barbier. Yet, the flexible labour market means many Xerox workers choose to work abroad rather than to join specifically any one company. Ms Barbier freely admits that her decision to come to the Republic wasn't based around her present job.

"I'd heard a lot about Ireland and how it was a nice place so I decided to come here to work," she says.

Sports facilities, gyms and theme events to celebrate the various national days of the employees are all part and parcel of the Xerox package. The company also employs outside contractors to offer English and foreign language lessons to Irish and foreign employees.

While emphasis is placed on career development and taking away any thoughts of homesickness, it remains to be seen how successful these perks will prove. There are no shortage of good jobs on offer for people with language skills and job mobility is likely to increase rather than decrease in the foreseeable future.

"People now are adaptable and flexible this could be a problem for companies like Xerox because if we don't like the job we'll just leave," says Ms Barbier.