Market comparison
Canada vs Ireland: agency markets compared
Agency work in Canada is labour-cost driven, not tooling driven: a much cheaper proposal usually means less seniority, fewer hours or subcontracting. Search and social capability is deep and competitively priced, while senior brand strategy concentrates in a smaller number of groups.
Market size and coverage
Advertising figures come from the named industry body or statistics agency in each market. They are published on different bases and in different currencies, so treat them as scale, not a ratio.
Canada
Budgets quoted in CAD where sourced.
- Advertising industry operating revenue
- $15.4bn (2024)
- Digital advertising revenue
- $21.2bn forecast (2025)
Up 8.0% on 2023, the fourth straight year of growth, with an operating profit margin of 13.6%.
Source: Statistics Canada, Advertising and related services, 2024
Up from $18.2bn in 2024, a 16.6% year-over-year increase.
Source: IAB Canada Internet Advertising Revenue Survey and Forecast, 16 October 2025
Listed agencies: 43 across 7 cities
Scored on our methodology: 10
Main cities: Toronto (28), Vancouver (6), Montreal (5), Fergus (1), Mississauga (1), Quebec City (1)
Deepest specialties: Brand Strategy (18), Branding (18), Digital Marketing (16), Web Design (15), Content Marketing (14)
Ireland
Budgets quoted in EUR where sourced.
- Digital advertising spend
- €1.06bn (2024)
- Total advertising market
- €1.53bn forecast (2024)
Up 11% year on year; digital display grew 15% to €589m in 2023.
Digital is roughly 64% of overall advertising revenue.
Source: Core Outlook forecast, reported by Adworld, 8 February 2024
Listed agencies: 52 across 18 cities
Scored on our methodology: 10
Main cities: Dublin (21), Cork (5), Kilkenny (4), Waterford (4), Athlone (2), Kildare (2)
Deepest specialties: Web Design (23), Branding (18), Digital Marketing (17), Ecommerce Marketing (10), Public Relations (9)
Rules that change the work
These differences usually matter more to a cross-border engagement than price does.
Canada
- Ad Standards, administering the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards
- Competition Bureau on deceptive marketing practices
- CASL consent, identification and unsubscribe requirements for commercial electronic messages
- Quebec's Charter of the French Language as amended by Bill 96 for French-language marketing
Ireland
- Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland, administering the ASAI code
- GDPR, enforced by the Data Protection Commission
- ePrivacy Regulations 2011 (SI 336 of 2011) for email, SMS and telephone marketing consent
What we have published for each market
Canada
- Top 10 Marketing and Branding Agencies in Canada (2026)Last researched September 8, 2026
- Hiring a Marketing or Branding Agency in Canada: A Buyer's GuideWhat the Canadian agency market looks like in 2026, what work costs, how Quebec language rules and CASL affect campaigns, and how to build a shortlist you can defend.
Ireland
- Top 10 Marketing and Branding Agencies in IrelandLast researched September 10, 2026
- Ireland Marketing and Branding Agency Market: A Buyer GuideHow the Irish agency market works, what the advertising and data rules require, and how to shortlist a partner with real evidence.
Choosing between Canada and Ireland
- Pick the market where the work is being sold, not where it is cheapest. Local media buying, language and consumer regulation are the hardest things to outsource across a border.
- For a cross-border engagement, agree the contract currency, who carries exchange-rate risk, where the work is performed and how personal data moves between the two jurisdictions before you sign.
- Ask both shortlists the same question: show one comparable project, the brief, what changed afterwards, and where those numbers came from.
- Check who actually runs the account. In both markets, the senior people in the pitch are frequently not the people delivering the work.