As Ireland braces for another year of near-record-low unemployment, recruiters and jobseekers alike are navigating a landscape marked by innovation, flexibility, and fierce talent competition.
According to Sam Dooley, country director for The Stepstone Group Ireland, which oversees the employment website IrishJobs, the recruitment trends for 2025, are expected to see a variety of factors come into play, from increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI ) to skills shortages at home.
Sharing his top five predictions for the year in a report published in January by IrishJobs, Dooley's insight provides beneficial tips and advice for those looking to change their career this year.
Prediction 1: AI will become a recruiter's new best friend
Artificial intelligence (AI ) is already playing a big role in Irish recruitment, and according to Dooley, it is about to get bigger. With one in four Irish employers currently using AI, tools like automated interview scheduling, candidate reminders, and tracking systems are reducing repetitive workloads and easing stress on recruiters.
IrishJobs research suggests that the use of AI will ramp up significantly in 2025, as companies develop clear policies and provide training to their teams. Given that just 24 per cent of firms have formal AI guidelines in place, there’s room for growth—and it’s likely to happen fast.
Prediction 2: Hybrid work is here to stay
Despite murmurs of multinationals calling employees back to the office, hybrid work is holding its ground in Ireland. Over the past year, the proportion of hybrid roles has remained steady, fluctuating between 11 per cent and 12 per cent of job vacancies.
For jobseekers, flexibility remains key. According to the IrishJobs report, nearly half of jobseekers (47 per cent ) say that they would reject roles without hybrid or remote options, making it clear that employers will need to offer more than a paycheck to attract talent.
While fully remote positions are becoming rarer—dropping to a four-year low in October—hybrid work looks set to stay. Employers who embrace formalised policies for flexible working will have a distinct advantage in a competitive labour market.
Prediction 3: Construction skills shortages to become a growing concern
The construction sector continues to grapple with a skills shortage that shows no signs of easing. Recent data from IrishJobs reveals that three of the five most in-demand roles for 2025 are in construction and skilled trades.
The challenge is twofold: an ageing workforce and a lack of younger specialists entering the industry. With Ireland’s ambitious housing targets at risk, addressing this gap will require a multi-pronged approach—investment in training, international recruitment, and incentives for young workers to enter the field.
Prediction 4: Employee wellbeing will be the new retention strategy
In a job market where top talent is scarce, keeping employees happy is just as important as hiring them. Over the past year, IrishJobs’ TalentBank—a CV database of 1.4 million candidates—has seen a 12 per cent increase in searches, underscoring the demand for skilled professionals.
For employers, the message is clear: retention starts with well-being. A positive work culture, meaningful hybrid working arrangements, and a focus on mental health will be critical to keeping staff engaged and loyal.
Prediction 5: Attracting international talent will become tougher
Ireland’s reputation as a hub for international talent faces mounting challenges. In 2023, the country slipped to 36th place in global rankings for talent attractiveness, partly due to housing shortages and rising costs.
As geopolitical competition heats up, Ireland will need to step up its game. Collaboration between government and industry will be key to ensuring that infrastructure, particularly housing, can support an influx of skilled professionals.
Looking Ahead
The Irish jobs market in 2024 is set to be dynamic, demanding, and driven by change. For recruiters, it’s about leveraging technology, embracing flexibility, and investing in people. For jobseekers, opportunities abound—but so do challenges.
Speaking about the report, Dooley said, “By spotlighting the key challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, the Stepstone Group hopes to support companies across the country to better navigate an evolving recruitment landscape and meet their talent needs in 2025.
"As we look towards the new year, it’s clear that advancements in AI will have a transformative impact on the recruitment landscape in Ireland. AI tools and technologies can help automate many manual tasks in hiring and drive greater productivity.
"With low levels of unemployment set to continue in 2025, combined with skills shortages across many sectors, employers will also need to remain attuned to the evolving needs of professionals as they compete to attract and retain high-calibre talent. IrishJobs research shows the importance of hybrid working arrangements continues to rise in the agenda of professionals in Ireland and should be considered by employers as part of their talent offering.”
Whether you’re hiring or hunting, one thing is certain: staying ahead of the curve will be crucial in this evolving landscape.
