Ireland's architectural market is currently booming, as the number of new buildings springing up testifies. This boom though is leading to a recruitment shortfall which is now critical to the industry, resulting in top architects and architectural recruitment consultants calling for Irish architects in May to focus more on their home market. At any given time a significant percentage of Irish architects typically work abroad, however, to ensure the economy and property market continues, more Irish architects are needed. This recruitment gap has also not been filled by the recent EU expansion, as currently client demand is predominantly for domestic and UK qualified workers.

Discussing this trend, and promoting staffing in general for the Irish architectural community, recruitment consultancy Beresford Blake Thomas (BBT) is organising an industry networking event for workers to meet both clients and consultants and discuss their careers. Attending will be such leading architects as S&P, OBK, Keenan Lynch Architecture, Campbell Conroy Hickey and A&D Wejchert.

Naomi Cassidy, at organisers BBT, said: "The market is rocketing currently and we really need to look at ways to entice more Irish architects to stay in the country. There are some fantastic projects currently underway and people should look to develop their careers here, instead of necessarily looking abroad. In addition, many Irish qualified architectural staff are travelling for a few years and as a result Ireland is losing highly skilled people. We need to buck this trend and help support Irish architects wherever they are in their career."

The networking event is being held on Thursday 24 May at the Dylan Hotel in Dublin, from 5.00pm to 9.00pm.