Mastercard is to hire a further 1,500 staff for its global technology hub in Dublin, more than tripling its workforce in the first major multinational company jobs announcement to be made in Ireland in 2020. The hires are expected to take place over the next three to five years.
Mastercard already employs 500 people at its Irish office, which opened in 2008. The company also set up a research and development unit, Mastercard Labs, in the city in 2012. IDA Ireland, the government agency competing for foreign jobs, said in a statement that it plans to increase headcount to more than 2,000 from the current 650.
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“The Dublin Tech Hub is our innovation powerhouse across Europe and beyond and we are pleased to be expanding our tech footprint in the city,” said Ed McLoughlin, president of operations and technology at Mastercard.
“Our new campus will help us continue to attract the best and brightest tech talent, keep us at the forefront of emerging technology trends, and be well-positioned to shape the future of digital commerce around the world.”
Ireland's caretaker Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said of the expansion: “The 1,500 jobs that Mastercard will create will be high quality, skilled jobs that will be in high demand.”
“When it comes to the economy and jobs, we can never let our guard down. As a country, we must continue to pursue policies that make Ireland an attractive place for investment and job creation, and one that is open to free trade.”
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Mastercard, which like other financial payments companies is investing heavily in technology, said it is looking to hire staff in growth areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, blockchain and user experience.
