The LinkedIn jobs report has found that more people are choosing to stay put as the number of open roles has fallen.
Workplace social media platform LinkedIn has today (18 December) published new data highlighting the growing competition professionals are facing to secure new employment, leading to a rise in ‘job hugging’ – staying in your current role.
Commenting on the data, LinkedIn Ireland country manager Cara O’Leary said, “Internationally and in Ireland, we are seeing a trend where more workers are opting to stay in their current roles rather than actively seeking new opportunities.
“This is down to a more competitive jobs market as companies advertise fewer roles. This is coming through in our data where we have observed a decline in job search intensity, which fell by nearly 4pc year-on-year in October.”
According to LinkedIn’s report, in Ireland, the ratio of applications to applicants fell by 3.9pc. This is more than double the rate of decline in several EMEA and LATAM countries. Only the UK, which fell by 9.4pc, France (5.6pc) and Germany (4.4pc) recorded higher falls than Ireland.
Ireland was also found to be leading the way on flexible work. Hybrid arrangements remain the most popular option facilitated by organisations in Ireland, with almost 40pc of all job postings listed in October offered as a hybrid role. The country tied with the UK for the highest availability of hybrid work across EMEA. This was above the average of 30.8pc of job postings advertised as hybrid across the region during the same period.
In regards to remote work, Ireland placed second in EMEA. More than 8pc of all job postings were found to offer the opportunity to work exclusively from home, behind only the UK and surpassing the European average of 5.3pc. Remote roles in Ireland remain some of the most in-demand jobs, with applications for remote positions making up almost 15pc of job applications.
O’Leary said, “Ireland continues to stand out as a leader in flexible work, with hybrid roles now accounting for more than one-third of all job postings. Remote opportunities also remain highly sought after, with Irish workers applying to them at even higher rates than the European average. Flexibility continues to be a key differentiator for companies seeking to attract and retain the best talent.”
Green careers
LinkedIn’s data also revealed that green talent is “far more likely to secure a job”, as people in this cohort are getting hired at a global rate of 46.6pc above the global hiring rate. Energy management was found to be the fastest growing green skill category and the proportion of LinkedIn members that added this skill was more than 17pc higher this year, compared to 2024.
The report said, “A spike in AI-driven demand for energy and continued growth in renewable energy supply has led to these skills growing particularly quickly in the technology, information and media and utilities sectors.”
O’Leary added, “Internationally and in Ireland, we’re also seeing real momentum around green skills, with talent in this space being hired at rates well above the global average. As demand for sustainability and energy-related expertise accelerates, Irish professionals who invest in these skills will be exceptionally well positioned for the future.”
Earlier this week, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which is the country’s national body committed to a more sustainable future, published the Energy in Ireland 2025 report. Findings indicated that while Ireland is making progress in terms of energy-related emissions, there is still considerable work to be done to meet 2030 climate commitments.
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