Almost three quarters of Irish employers plan to recruit for permanent roles in 2025, according to new research, an 11% decline compared to 2024.
The report, which was commissioned by recruitment firm Hays Ireland, found that 57% of Irish employees said that they are planning to find employment in a company that offers remote working options in the next 12 months.
More than a fifth of employers said they anticipate workers will be asked to spend more time in the office, while three quarters of employers said that they plan to maintain their current hybrid working policies over the coming year.
According to the study, 46% of workers said they feel positive about their career prospects in the next 12 months, this has dropped from 56% who said they felt positive last year.
More than 6-in-10 workers said they expect to move jobs in the next 12 months, increasing from 52% who said the same in 2023.
Of staff intending to move, 30% of employees stated that they were planning on changing the industry that they work in this year, with the most popular sector being IT.
“The Hays Ireland Salary & Recruitment Trends Guide 2025 revealed that employees are open to new roles in pursuit of higher wages or hybrid working arrangements, partly due to a fall in sentiment surrounding career prospects,” said Maureen Lynch, Managing Director of Hays Ireland.
“While the pandemic boom in remote working has slowed down, most employers remain committed in keeping some element of hybrid working within their employee handbook.”
“As employees plan to seek new opportunities in the coming year, 2025 will be a key period for both recruitment and retention efforts,” Ms Lynch said.
“While concerns about potential trade-related challenges to the global economy linger, skill shortages remain a significant factor for the Irish market,” she added.
The survey on which the findings are based received over 1,150 responses from employers and employees across Ireland.