The research highlighted how workplace benefits are becoming as important to professionals as salaries are.
Recruitment platform IrishJobs has issued a report exploring workplace benefits and salary trends. What was discovered is that beyond the standard expectation of a decent salary, compensation in the form of workplace perks has become an expectation.
Flexibility was shown to be a key motivator for professionals, as more than half of those surveyed for the report (56pc) explained that they would not apply for a role that didn’t offer hybrid or remote working arrangements.
Health insurance was found to be the most sought-after workplace perk, while access to sick pay and pension contributions beyond the legal requirement were also shown to be among the most desirable benefits.
Professional progression was also found to be of utmost importance. 53pc of participants noted that they wouldn’t apply for roles that don’t provide clear career progression. The report said: “These findings indicate that employers must increasingly compete on the full talent package offering in attracting and retaining talent, not only a competitive salary package.”
Top talent
The report noted employers are navigating a competitive labour market where skills are increasingly driving pay decisions.
“Recruiting workers with in-demand skills (61pc) was the top factor influencing salary decisions among employers in Ireland last year,” said IrishJobs. “While specialist and technical skills are in high demand within specific industries, employers are more broadly focused on soft skills.”
Leadership and people management skills were also found to be among the most in-demand capabilities, and were likely to yield a higher salary, as well as project management and technical skills.
Commenting on the release of the findings, Christopher Paye, the country director of The Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs, said: “With many employers already providing salary increases in 2025 and struggling to keep pace with the demand for higher wages, organisations should re-evaluate their employment offering and consider wider benefits to create a strong proposition for talent that meets their evolving needs.
“Providing flexible and hybrid working options remains high on the agenda for jobseekers and can provide a key differentiator for attracting and retaining talent without breaking the bank. Findings show that health and wellbeing is increasingly being prioritised by jobseekers, with health insurance ranked as the most in-demand benefit among professionals surveyed.”
The research is based on an analysis by the Stepstone Group of advertised salary and benefit trends from 1.3m job advertisements, alongside survey insights from 470 recruiters and 670 candidates based in Ireland.
Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.
