Global human resource services firm UKG announced plans to swell its workforce by almost double at its base in Kilkenny with the creation of 200 jobs over the next three years.
The company, which provides HR, payroll and workforce management services to other businesses, said the new roles will primarily be in the area of cybersecurity following a decision to base its European securities operation centre in Ireland.
UKG president and chief product and technology officer Hugo Sarrazin said a recent surge in “cybersecurity warfare” has led the company to invest in this area especially as the company continues to grow.
UKG established its presence in Ireland last year after it acquired Kilkenny-based multi-country payroll technology provider Immedis in a deal worth around €575m. The business currently employs around 145 people.
Mr Sarrazin said UKG decided to base its securities operations out of Kilkenny due to the pool of talent emerging from technical universities in the region and a “supportive business environment.”
Richard Limpkin, Immedis co-founder and group vice president of multi-country payroll solutions at UKG, said “less than two years ago it could have been a different outcome” due to housing constraints.
Mr Limpkin said ramped activity in the supply of housing in the region was “definitely a factor” for the company when deciding where to create a Global Operations Hub and add 200 jobs.
“The primary factor is if the talent exists in the area and then can you accommodate them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Limpkin suggested the firm will look to expand office space in Kilkenny in the near future.
The creation of jobs in Ireland follows similar hiring sprees and investment by UKG at its operations in the US, India, Bulgaria and Uruguay.
As the firm becomes larger however, it has also slimmed down.
Earlier this year, the company cut around 2,000 staff, slashing its workforce by 14%.
Mr Sarrazin said the “there was some duplication” in operations following mergers and acquisitions.
“We did a fundamental shift in the way we did some of activities,” he said “that made some skills less relevant”.