SD Worx pays a fifth of Ireland’s workforce

As the regulatory landscape gets stricter, SD Worx’s software is now used by organisations in Ireland to pay 17% of the country’s workforce

18 March 2026

As the regulatory landscape gets stricter, SD Worx’s software is now used by organisations in Ireland to pay 17% of the country’s workforce
In an ambitious strategy for continued growth, SD Worx is targeting a 25% Irish market share in the next five years
SD Worx Ireland had record revenue growth of 26% in 2025
Company pays employees in many of Ireland’s largest employers, including hospitality, pharma and healthcare, and retail
It expects significant opportunities for growth within the SME sector

SD Worx Ireland,a leading payroll and HR solutions provider, today announces that a stricter regulatory environment has resulted in its payroll software being used to pay nearly one-in-five employees in Ireland. Irish businesses are using the company’s MegaPay software – developed in Ireland – to pay 17% of the country’s workforce, totalling almost 400,000 employees. As part of an ambitious strategy for continued growth, SD Worx is targeting a market share of 25% in Ireland in the next five years.

The introduction of industry regulations such as Enhanced Reporting Requirements, pension auto-enrolment, and gender pay gap reporting is putting increasing pressure on Irish businesses – especially within payroll – with extra administrative burden, stringent reporting requirements, and more serious penalties for non-compliance. As businesses look to bridge these resource gaps, SD Worx Ireland experienced a record 26% revenue growth in 2025, with consistent customer win rates and a customer retention rate close to 99%. The company currently serves a base of 450 businesses in Ireland.

Further driving the growth of SD Worx’s services among businesses in Ireland is the demand for reliable payments and the need to keep pace with their competitors. MegaPay provides real-time, highly configurable payroll processing capabilities and ensures on-time accurate payments, reduces payroll complexities through automation and integration, and enables customisable reporting. In addition, amid escalating cyber threats, SD Worx is certified in ISO27001, ISAE 3000 and 3402 Type II, and Cyber Essentials to ensure the protection of highly sensitive business and employee data.

SD Worx has long been the payroll engine behind many of Ireland’s largest employers, in sectors including hospitality, pharma and healthcare, professional and financial services, food and beverage, and retail. The company expects further significant growth opportunities following its recent expansion into the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector, backed by a €3 million investment. The company now offers enterprise-grade solutions tailored to SMEs.

We are on an ambitious growth path which we expect will see the continued increase of our market share in Ireland, particularly in the SME sector – the backbone of the Irish economy – and as employee numbers continue to rise. As the regulatory landscape rapidly changes, robust, reliable, and accurate payroll is a fundamental requirement for every business that must be prioritised in order to attract and retain skilled employees. As we all lead rich lives outside of the workplace, on-time payment is the very minimum that employees should expect, and we pride ourselves on the fact that we have never missed a pay date or submission. In addition, as SD Worx Ireland is part of larger group, our customers benefit from the resources of an international company with the responsiveness and support of a local team. An increasing number of organisations do not have the in-house resources to keep pace with the evolving requirements of modern work environments, and we strive to provide payroll solutions that makes life easier for both businesses and their teams.”

Eimear Byrne

Managing Director

SD Worx Ireland

Notes to editors

Latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures, issued December 2025, show a total of 2,345,457 employees in active companies in Ireland. SD Worx’s MegaPay software is used by companies to pay a total of 396,303 of such employees, as reported by the Revenue Commissioners for the same period.

About SD Worx

SD Worx believes that success starts with people. A thriving workforce doesn’t just build a thriving company, it also contributes to society. Together with its customers, SD Worx sparks successful HR that benefits work, life and society.

As the trusted leading European HR and payroll solutions provider for all organisations and workers, SD Worx delivers software, services and expertise across payroll & reward, human capital management and workforce management. SD Worx has deep roots across Europe and has been leading the way for eight decades together with its customers, employers big and small, to spark employee engagement that ignites success at the heart of their business.

About 95,000 small and large organisations across Europe place their trust in SD Worx. The almost 10,000 colleagues operate in 27 countries. SD Worx calculates the salaries of approximately 6 million employees and ranks among the top five worldwide. It achieved a revenue of EUR 1.180 billion in 2024.

More info on www.sdworx.com / Follow us via LinkedIn

Press Contact

Máirín O'Sullivan Marketing Managermairin.osullivan@sdworx.com