Belfast-headquartered technology firm Kainos will create 341 new jobs across Northern Ireland over the next three years, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald have announced. The expansion, backed by £1.5 million from Invest Northern Ireland, will see the global IT provider bolster its artificial intelligence capabilities while consolidating its presence in Belfast and Derry~Londonderry.
The recruitment drive represents a £19.8 million investment by the FTSE 250-listed company, which reported record financial results for the year ended 31 March 2026, with revenues rising 17% to £431.1 million. The announcement comes as Kainos prepares to occupy its new £39 million Bankmore Exchange headquarters in Belfast city centre in early 2027.
Role Distribution and Investment
The new positions will be split between Kainos’ existing offices, with 309 roles based in Belfast and 32 in the company’s Derry~Londonderry location. The roles span software engineering, platform and data engineering, AI and data science, architecture, product and Workday consulting, alongside delivery, design and business support functions.
- Total jobs: 341 over three years
- Location split: 309 in Belfast, 32 in Derry~Londonderry
- Average salary: £58,000
- Graduate roles: 200 company-wide early career positions
- Invest NI support: £1.5 million
- Total investment: £19.8 million
Kainos, which currently employs over 3,500 staff across 20 countries, has experienced rapid growth in its AI and data-related work, with revenues in this area increasing 11% to nearly £46 million in the past year. The company is also on track to achieve £100 million in Annual Recurring Revenue from its Workday Products division by the end of 2026.
Executive Response
Speaking during a visit to Kainos’ headquarters at Crescent Gardens in Belfast, First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the expansion as a boost for regional economic balance:
“Kainos is a real local success story, growing from its Belfast roots into a global tech leader powered by local talent. Over 340 new jobs, including further career opportunities, is a significant commitment and one that will make a real difference to young people building their futures here at home.
“I also welcome that these roles will be created in both Belfast and Derry, helping to support regional balance and ensuring the benefits of growth are felt more widely. AI is reshaping our economy, and this investment demonstrates the strength of partnership between government and industry in driving innovation, productivity and inclusive growth for communities right across the north.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly emphasised the quality of local talent:
“This is great news for Northern Ireland and a real testament to the strength of our tech talent pipeline. The creation of over 340 new jobs, including graduate and early career opportunities, shows that young people here do not need to look elsewhere to build ambitious, rewarding careers.
“Kainos is a Northern Ireland success story, the company is world-class and this expansion demonstrates the confidence that leading businesses have in our people and our economy. By working together with industry partners like Kainos, we can deliver real opportunity for everyone across Northern Ireland and further cement our position on the global stage.”
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald highlighted the strategic importance of AI development:
“The creation of 341 high quality jobs is a strong vote of confidence in our growing tech sector and the highly skilled people who work here. Companies like Kainos are helping to build a globally competitive tech ecosystem, while offering flexible and hybrid working opportunities. This expansion highlights the north’s reputation as a place where businesses can scale, innovate and create rewarding careers for local talent, with AI driving new high-value job creation across the economy. It also demonstrates the breadth of the AI opportunities emerging across our sectors, with strong local expertise and companies helping to boost productivity and support long-term economic growth.”
Chief Executive Statement
Brendan Mooney, who returned as Chief Executive Officer in December 2024 after previously leading the company for 22 years, said the expansion responds to accelerating customer demand:
“This expansion reflects growing customer demand for our AI digital transformation services across the public, health and commercial sectors. By investing in our people, including 200 company-wide early career roles alongside these experienced positions, we will be able to do more for our customers as they put AI to work. It is an exciting time for Kainos and our customers, and a pleasure to be creating these jobs in Belfast and Derry alongside our £39m investment in Bankmore, our new Belfast office.”
Kieran Donoghue, Chief Executive of Invest NI, noted that the support package helped secure the investment for Northern Ireland rather than overseas locations:
“We are very pleased to support Kainos as it continues to develop its industry leading capabilities and grow its presence in Northern Ireland. Our previous R&D support helped the company to create its innovative Smart Test and Smart Audit products, while earlier support enabled significant job creation in Belfast and Derry~Londonderry.
“This latest expansion will create highly skilled roles in AI, data and software engineering, further strengthening Northern Ireland’s reputation as a centre for advanced digital and AI capability.”
Workforce Context
While the job creation announcement marks a significant vote of confidence in Northern Ireland’s tech sector, it arrives within a broader context of workforce fluctuation. In the financial year ending March 2025, Kainos reduced its global workforce by 7% (190 positions) as part of a restructuring programme aimed at creating capacity for AI and product development investment. The company has since returned to growth mode, with bookings up 32% to £505.3 million in FY26.
The announcement also highlights ongoing challenges regarding gender representation in technology roles. Kainos’ most recent gender pay gap report (2023-24) showed a 17.1% gap, driven by under-representation of women at senior levels, though women now hold 27% of senior management positions, up from 23% in 2021-22. The company has committed to increasing female representation to 38% by 2025.
Additionally, while Invest NI has offered £1.5 million in support, the specific allocation of these funds—whether for training, recruitment, or infrastructure—has not been detailed. The support comes as part of a broader pattern of public investment in the firm, which previously received £2.4 million for R&D into its automated testing platform.
Outstanding Questions
- How will Kainos ensure diverse recruitment pathways given the persistent gender pay gap and under-representation of women in senior technical roles?
- What specific AI applications and ethical frameworks will govern the new roles, particularly given Kainos’ significant public sector contracts?
- Given the 2025 restructuring that saw 190 departures, what long-term employment safeguards exist for these new positions beyond the initial three-year commitment?
- How will Invest NI measure the return on its £1.5 million investment against the £19.8 million private commitment, and what clawback provisions exist if targets are not met?
- Will the new Bankmore Exchange headquarters, scheduled for completion in early 2027, accommodate all 309 Belfast-based new recruits, or will additional office capacity be required?
The expansion reinforces Northern Ireland’s position as a UK hub for AI development, with Kainos ranking among the top suppliers of AI solutions to the UK public sector. As the company approaches the opening of its new city centre headquarters and targets £100 million in product revenue by year-end, the success of this recruitment drive will serve as a barometer for the region’s ability to supply skilled digital talent at scale.