The company has been supplying skilled workers to Denmark since 2019 and expects further growth there in 2026. In Ireland, demand for construction workers is set to remain strong, supported by the National Development Plan Review, Ireland’s largest ever capital investment programme with €275 billion allocated through to 2035, as well as ongoing housing needs.

Founder and Managing Director David Ward said the company’s international footprint is central to meeting labour shortages:
“As we celebrate 15 years in business, we are excited about the strong opportunities ahead as we broaden our operations across Western Europe. While our current focus is on Denmark and Germany, the next phase of our expansion will extend into additional Western European markets.”

To support this growth, Ward Personnel continues to recruit skilled workers from Eastern Europe, supported by a dedicated sourcing team in Poland. The company has also strengthened its senior management team with recent appointments, including Allan Daly as Head of Management & Technical (M&T), and has invested in new systems such as Recruit CRM to enhance service delivery.

In 2025, the firm moved to a new Group Headquarters in Blackrock, Cork, designed to support collaboration, communication and team culture. Today, Ward Personnel employs more than 50 staff across offices in Cork, Dublin, Poland, Denmark and Germany, supporting a workforce of over 650 on client sites.

Leadership Team (L to R):Matt Mis, Allan Daly, Rory Dean, Paul Carr, David Ward, Patrick Toye, Anthony Savage, Padraig Murray.

With major construction activity planned for 2026, now is a good time for companies to review their staffing needs across both labour and trades roles and professional positions.

Ward Personnel works with construction clients throughout Ireland to ensure they have the right people in place when required. Early engagement helps secure the best staffing solutions, particularly for specialist roles where shortages can arise.

We source a wide range of construction workers, including general operatives, site cleaners, machine drivers, carpenters, scaffolders and groundworkers, along with certified personnel across the Construction and Mechanical and Electrical sectors.

Our expanding White Collar division also supports clients in sourcing professional talent for both contract and permanent roles.

Clients value our service, flexibility and commitment to supplying the right workforce for projects of all sizes. We aim to deliver the best possible result on every assignment.

Learn more at: www.wardpersonnel.com

Industry Insight: Addressing Ireland’s Workforce Challenges

In recent weeks, David Ward contributed an opinion piece examining one of the most pressing issues facing the construction sector today: the growing gap between Ireland’s housing and infrastructure ambitions and the workforce required to deliver them.

The article explored the scale of the challenge set out in the Government’s latest housing and infrastructure frameworks, and the need for a stronger, more sustainable pipeline of skilled workers across trades, professional services and site management. It also highlighted the progress made in Ireland’s apprenticeship system, while noting that cultural perceptions of trades continue to act as a barrier to attracting new entrants.

A key theme of the piece was the importance of both domestic training and international recruitment in meeting national targets. With major projects planned and demand increasing across Europe, Ireland will need to compete effectively for talent while continuing to invest in long‑term skills development at home.

For clients navigating a fast‑moving labour market, the op‑ed reinforces a reality we see every day: workforce planning, skills availability and international sourcing will remain central to project delivery in the years ahead.

Read the full op-ed in the Irish Examiner here

Members of the Ward Personnel team recently attended the Cork Branch CIF Annual Dinner at Fota Island Resort. Representing the company on the night were Rory Dean, Labour and Trades Divisional Manager, Anthony Savage, Head of Business Development, Peter Abernethy, Business Development and Account Manager, and Managing Director David Ward.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues and meet new contacts from across the construction sector. It was hosted by Joanne Treacy, Director of the CIF Southern Region, with contributions from Patsy Supple, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Cork Branch, and Andrew Brownlee, CEO of the Construction Industry Federation.

The keynote address was delivered by Sean O’Driscoll, Chair of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, who shared valuable insights on the future of infrastructure delivery, long term planning and project timelines.