The latest Talent Tracker research from professional services firm Accenture shows a surge in technology job postings so far this year, with a 16.3pc increase observed over the past six months.
The tracker is based on research which analyses data from LinkedIn’s professional network, assessing the skills of existing professionals and skills required by organisations across the country.
The latest research found a 142pc increase in demand for AI professionals followed by data analytics (36pc) and cloud computing (21pc).
It contrasts with numbers from the IDA earlier this month that showed tech hiring still fairly strained.
Accenture managing director and Head of Talent & Organisation in Ireland, Audrey O’Mahony, said the number reflects businesses recognising that AI can provide a significant competitive edge.
“As we consider the impact that generative AI, in particular, will have on the workplace, it’s imperative that businesses are not only hiring for those skills, but they are also equipping their existing employees with generative AI knowledge. Those who double down on building the trust of their workforce and reskilling at scale will be the ones to reap the rewards of this change,” she said.
The tracker shows demand for tech workers in Ireland is mostly spread across eight regional hubs, but Dublin’s share of the country’s overall technology workforce is growing – to 63.2pc from 59pc in the previous six-month period.
Other areas where Accenture played particular attention to tech roles are Cork, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, Waterford, Westmeath and Sligo.
The Accenture data comes after a report at the start of this month from the IDA showed a significant slowdown in new jobs being created by multinationals here so far this year, and a net loss of employment last year.
The total number of people working in Ireland is at an all-time high, but the IDA jobs news is consistent with a report last week from Bank of Ireland that showed job creation is now driven by domestic employers, especially the State, rather than the competitive multinational sector.
In the first six months of this year, IDA Ireland said it supported 131 investments, most outside Dublin, that will enable future delivery of 8,900 jobs. That is down on the first half of 2023, when the agency reported 139 investments with the potential of 12,072 jobs.