Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

The Work

Sociologists use scientific methods to develop surveys and undertake statistical analysis. For example, to examine urban inequality, researchers may take a random sample of adults from selected households. They may ask a series of questions to find out about the adult's experiences of employment or their residential preferences.  
 
Quantitative research involves large samples (usually more than 100 people) and measurable data. Qualitative research uses smaller numbers of people and concentrates more on people's opinions and experiences. Focus groups, made up of a small number of selected people, are encouraged to discuss a particular topic. Researchers may also interview people on a one-to-one basis.  
 
Computers are normally used to analyse data and produce statistics, graphs and models. At the end of the project, researchers write a report that sets out research aims, results, conclusions and recommendations. The findings of a completed project are often presented to interested parties.  
 
Social researchers help to form and monitor social policy in central government departments. They use census records to study and predict changes in population structure and movement. Knowledge of public attitudes to diet, drugs, crime and alcohol helps the government to set health care targets and produce public information literature. Research into crime (for example, domestic violence) helps the police and may lead to changes in the law.  
 
In local government, research tends to be very specific to policy. Researchers help local authorities by producing information on housing, education, social services and planning. For example, they survey people's opinions about the state of housing, or the impact of a new road designed to relieve traffic congestion.  
 
The government and market research organisations are interested in consumer attitudes and behaviour. They may assess consumer behaviour by asking people about their decisions to save or borrow money, or to buy houses and cars. This helps the government to assess confidence in the economy, and manufacturing industries to identify new products and markets.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Analyse and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
• Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
• Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
• Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
• Teach sociology.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
• Present research findings at professional meetings.
• Develop approaches to the solution of groups' problems, based on research findings in sociology and related disciplines.
• Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.
• Observe group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Generally, entry requirements vary according to the nature of the institution. Some graduates use social policy and sociology in broader areas such as management, adult education, youth work and community development, marketing, journalism, and policy analysis or in the Civil Service and administration. Others with qualifications in Social Policy or Sociology become professional Sociologists working as researchers or lecturers in university Departments.  
 
You may be able to go into a social research career straight after your first degree. However, it is increasingly the case that employers require knowledge of research techniques that cannot usually be gained from a first degree. For this reason, you are likely to need a postgraduatequalification, for example, a Master's degree. in social research methods (often the preferred choice) or a research degree such as a Ph.D  
 
You may gain valuable experience through working in a managerial or administrative role where you may use research skills to evaluate service delivery, or by working for a market research organisation.

Training  & Development 

FET Centre PLC Courses: Applied Social Studies NFQ level 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses 

Higher Education CAO Entry: Arts- Sociology, Languages/ Philosophy/ Literature/ Geography & Sociology NFQ level 8 Search CAO courses 

Postgraduate Study options: Masters or Doctoral programmes in Applied sociological research, Political science, Social policy research NFQ level 9-10

Professional Development  

Sociologists can work in Universities in teaching or academia, or as part of research or policy development in government departments, private institutions, or non governmental organizations. They comply with SAI Sociological Society of Ireland ethical research Guidelines. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €32k - €91k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Glassdoor / Salary expert/ IUA / GOV.ie/ Indeed Prosperity.ie/ / Payscale

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual employment growth rate over the five-year period was above average for this occupation, with employment increasing by almost 2,000 persons between 2021 and 2022. Almost a third of employment was in industry with the remainder spread across many sectors. The number of new employment permits issued grew from 164 to 506 between 2021 and 2022, with two fifths of permits issued for roles in the manufacturing of chemicals/pharma sub-sector for scientists and analysts (e.g. quality control, chemists); other roles include medical scientists/technologists, microbiologists, process development and R&D scientists.

In June 2022, medical scientists were moved to the Critical Skills Employment Permit List due to issues with sourcing suitable candidates; in Summer 2023, the Government announced plans to expand the number of training places for medical scientists by 20 places. The Recruitment Agency Survey identified difficult-to-fill vacancy mentions for analytical and process scientists. Online job adverts for this occupation grew slightly in 2022, almost all related to posts for R&D managers.

This was the most frequently occurring occupation in online job adverts in 2022. With employment levels increasing and demand still evident, shortages are expected to persist for this occupation, particularly in the chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, for those with experience and/or in niche areas. The recent decline in the value of pharmaceutical exports in Ireland is unlikely to have a significant impact on the demand for skills as, in addition to being in strong demand in the pharma & biopharma processing industry, they are much sought after elsewhere in both the life sciences sector (e.g. medical devices) and other manufacturing (e.g. food & beverage); in addition, Government focus (and investment) on research and innovation will also sustain the already strong demand for these skills. Shortages of analytical, process and medical scientists are likely to continue.

Higher & further education teaching profs.

The five-year annual average growth for this occupation was below average, with employment levels in 2022 unchanged from the previous year. Vacancies for this occupational group primarily related to lecturers (DSP data), with lecturers across a variety of disciplines also featuring in the employment permit data in 2022.

This occupation has a high share of those employed aged 55 years and over (at 25%), indicating that replacement demand alone may create job opportunities in future years. Demographic factors may also lead to an increased demand for these roles, although this will be dependent on government funding.

• Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland

  • Economic and Social Research Institute, Whitaker Sq. Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin 2
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

  • Whitaker Square Sir John Rogerson's Quay Dublin 2
  • (01) 8632000
  • Click Here