The report shows professional job vacancies fell by 11.9pc in the final quarter compared with the previous quarter, but were only 1.9pc lower than in the same period in 2024, pointing to broadly consistent hiring levels year-on-year.
Candidate activity increased towards the end of the year as registrations rose by 4.3pc quarter on quarter, with workers preparing for new job opportunities in early 2026. This increase occurred alongside a rise in the unemployment rate to 5pc.
The monitor notes that workforce changes continued during the quarter, primarily through employees changing jobs and contract non-renewals, rather than because of large-scale redundancy programmes.
Technology hiring remained active, supported by continued demand for skills in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
AI capability was increasingly expected across a range of software development, architecture and project roles. Graduate and junior hiring in technology remained cautious, while demand for experienced professionals continued, it said.
Financial services hiring ended the year strongly with demand continuing across wealth management, pensions, mortgages and insurance. Recruitment in the sector was mainly for permanent roles.
In accounting and finance, hiring focused on corporate tax specialists, newly qualified accountants and senior finance professionals.
Life sciences and engineering remained active areas of the labour market during the last quarter, due to ongoing capital investment across biopharma, pharmaceutical and medtech sectors, it said.
Contract hiring continued to dominate project delivery, particularly in quality, validation, automation and engineering roles. Skill shortages persisted in specialist areas including automation.
Construction hiring also remained strong, driven mainly by long-term public infrastructure projects rather than short-cycle commercial projects, it said.
Quantity surveyors continued to be the most in-demand role, alongside civil engineers, project managers and mechanical and electrical engineers. Contract hiring remained common due to project-based funding and timelines.
Dublin continued to account for the majority of permanent hiring by multinational employers in Q4, while regional markets remained stable supported by indigenous and mid-sized firms.
“The Irish labour market has entered a more disciplined and mature phase,” said Trayc Keevans the global foreign direct investment director at Morgan McKinley.
“Employers are not pulling back, but they are being far more deliberate about where they hire.
“Demand has narrowed around critical skills, experienced talent and roles that directly support delivery, productivity, and growth,” she said.
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