ManpowerGroup Ireland is forecasting a big hike in hiring in the first three months of 2025, following a series of restructuring plans and job losses.
It has recorded the highest hiring intentions among employers in the sector since the pandemic.
Its latest Employment Outlook Survey finds the pharma sector’s “net employment outlook” has increased to 46pc, up from 23pc in the last quarter.
The “net employment outlook” is the percentage of employers who expect an increase in hiring activity minus the percentage that predict recruitment will fall.
Recruitment confidence in healthcare and life sciences is most pronounced in Dublin, while IT employers are also reporting strong hiring expectations.
“We’re anticipating the start of a hiring boom across the pharma sector in 2025,” said Jonny Edgar, managing director at ManpowerGroup Ireland.
He said Ireland has become a global hub for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and other life sciences manufacturing.
As consumer needs changed after the pandemic, he said managers took tough decisions to streamline manufacturing and re-evaluate product lines. This resulted in plant closures and substantially changed headcounts.
“These restructures, which shifted focus away from pandemic-era manufacturing needs, have put the sector in a position to grow in the New Year,” he said.
He said several major businesses have announced plans to hire at scale.
Mr Edgar said production operators, project engineers, and development scientists have seen an uptick in demand,
The IT sector reported the strongest hiring appetite of any industry across the country, while recruitment confidence cooled in the financial and real estate sector. Employers in the energy and utilities industries reported that they will be downsizing marginally.
Leinster’s employment outlook is the most positive across the country, followed by Dublin, Connaught and Munster, while employers in Ulster are anticipating job losses.
Mr Edgar said it is clear that all organisations are not preparing for growth and the smallest companies expect a reduction in headcount, while the energy sector is set for a “small contraction”.
“Businesses in these industries should look at their skills needs and focus on upskilling their existing workforce to prepare for economic growth,” he said. “Staying adaptable and investing in skills will be key to navigating the evolving economic landscape in 2025.”