New data shows that 18 per cent more professionals came to live in Ireland in the third quarter of the year, compared with the number leaving.

The data, from LinkedIn, the professional online network, and based on member information, shows the technology industry continues to attract the most foreign talent.

Also included in the list of the top five sectors attracting talent from overseas were healthcare and pharma, the government, education and non-profit sectors and retail and consumer products.

For the second quarter running, Italy was the biggest net contributor of professionals to Ireland. Other regions that contributed most professionals to Ireland in net migration in the period were Latin America, France, Spain and Eastern Europe.

The regions that attracted most professionals from Ireland were the UK, accounting for 58 per cent, the UAE (16 per cent) and North America (14 per cent).

Commenting on the data, Dr Craig Holmes from University of Oxford, said: “During the quarter we see a shift towards employment in small sized establishments, with more people opting to start their own business, leaving large- sized organisations.”