Most nightclub bouncers and security guards working in Ireland are male and are based in either Dublin, Cork, Limerick or Kildare. They have an average age of 38, and come from 92 countries, according to new figures.
The statistics, released by the Private Security Authority (PSA), provide for the first time a detailed picture of the individuals who work in the industry.
However, as many as 5,000 door supervisors and private security guards are believed not to have applied for a licence with the PSA since this became obligatory on April 1st.
The new figures show that 14,887 applications for licences to work as "static" security guards, door supervisors or both had been received by the PSA by the middle of May.
While 67 per cent of applicants were Irish, applications were received from 92 nationalities. Seven per cent of these were from Polish nationals with more than 4 per cent from Nigerian nationals. Just 4 per cent of applications were from women.
Almost 6,500 applications came from Dublin. Some 1,700 were from Cork, followed by 757 from Limerick, 725 from Kildare and 602 from Galway.
Three-quarters of applications were for positions as private "static" security guards, who typically work in retail stores, office complexes, industrial estates and building sites. The rest were for a door supervisor licence or both.
In Dublin, 841 applications related to door supervisor licences, compared to 5,496 for security guard licences and 82 for both. Leitrim (55), Longford (74) and Roscommon (95) had the lowest number of licence applications.
The fewest applicants were from Northern Ireland counties such as Antrim (one) and Derry (six). These were from people who live north of the Border but who work in the Republic.
Door supervisors working at bars and nightclubs have an average age of 36, while "static" security guards have an average age of 39, the figures show.
Since April 1st, it has been an offence to operate in a designated sector of the private security industry without a licence or proof of having applied for such a licence. It is also an offence to employ an unlicensed person.
To obtain a licence, applicants must prove that they have training relevant to their sector. They must also complete a Garda vetting form or criminal record certificate. Other information required by the PSA includes a valid tax-clearance certificate.
The PSA's director of licensing Paul Scallon said it intended to start issuing licences by the end of July and it hoped most applicants would have been issued with a licence by the autumn.
Those who applied for a licence before the April 1st closing date have been sent covering letters as an interim measure. About 3,000 applications were received since but these individuals have not been issued with a covering letter.