Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group for Ireland and responsible for IrishJobs, has revealed his top five hiring predictions for 2024. The recruitment leader forecasts that more recruiters will continue to adopt AI to help drive efficiency and productivity.
With near-record low levels of unemployment forecasted to continue in 2025, businesses in Ireland will navigate a tight labour market that presents challenges in attracting and retaining high-calibre talent. Recent data from IrishJobs showed high demand over the past twelve months for construction, accounting, and healthcare professionals.
In this competitive talent market, IrishJobs research shows that 1 in 3 recruiters are experiencing high levels of physical and mental stress due to their workload. While 28% of employers are already using AI in recruitment to automate manual recruitment tasks and alleviate some of these pressures, that figure is expected to rise significantly over the coming months.
Top 5 Hiring Predictions:
Prediction 1: Adoption of AI among recruiters set to accelerate
As the AI transformation accelerates, more recruiters are set to use the technology as part of their everyday role. IrishJobs research shows that more than 1 in 4 (28%) employers in Ireland are already using AI in recruitment processes. The technology can help to reduce the high workload for recruiters by reducing the time spent on manual and repetitive tasks. Sending candidates reminders, tracking application status, and scheduling job interviews are some of the most common ways in which the technology is already being used to enhance productivity during hiring.
The use of AI among recruiters will grow rapidly in 2025 as more companies adopt clear guidelines on its usage and provide skilling programmes to their workforce. Less than 1 in 4 firms (24%) have already established an organisation-wide AI policy, indicating the potential adoption of the technology to rise rapidly as workplace guidelines are established.
Prediction 2: Hybrid working is here to stay long-term
Despite some high-profile return-to-the-office mandates by large multinationals this year, IrishJobs data shows that the proportion of hybrid working vacancies has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 11.2% and 12.4% over the past six quarters. This stabilisation indicates that hybrid working is set to remain a key feature of the labour market in Ireland next year.
With a tight labour market set to continue in 2025, employers will need to consider how best to formalise hybrid working arrangements in their offering in order to meet candidate demand for flexible working. IrishJobs research shows that nearly half of jobseekers (47%) would be willing to turn down opportunities that do not provide hybrid or fully remote working options. In contrast, the future of fully remote homeworking in Ireland remains to be determined, with the number of remote job vacancies falling to its lowest level in four years in October.
Prediction 3: Skills shortages set to drive competition for talent in construction & skilled trades sectors
3 in 5 of the most in-demand roles in 2024 were construction professions, according to IrishJobs data published in December, reflecting a widening skills shortage across the construction, skilled trades, and related sectors. The lack of skilled workers necessary to meet Ireland’s ambitious housing targets over the coming years was recently highlighted in a report by the Department of Higher Education and Skills.
These shortages are likely to become more acute in 2025 due to an ageing workforce and scarcity of specialists with the skills needed to futureproof the industry. Investment in skills and training programmes, international hiring, and engaging a younger workforce will be crucial to meeting the skills needs of these sectors in 2025.
Prediction 4: Importance of employee wellbeing and retention to grow
With a highly competitive labour market set to continue in 2025, an increased focus on employee engagement and wellbeing will be crucial to talent retention. Many employers and recruiters directly connect with potential talent through the IrishJobs TalentBank, a CV database of over 1.4 million job candidates. The volume of TalentBank searches has increased by 12% this year, reflecting high levels of demand for high-calibre talent, with skilled professionals in the construction sector among the most highly sought-after roles.
In this environment, it’s crucial that employers continue to evolve their talent offerings to meet the evolving needs of professionals. A positive culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance is a crucial part of reducing attrition and keeping talent long-term. Employers should also stay attuned to the changing expectations of professionals around hybrid working arrangements and evolve their offering for talent accordingly.
Prediction 5: Rising competition for international talent
Ireland’s position as a leading European hub for international talent is likely to face increased competition from other markets around the globe. Amid increasing geopolitical competition in strategic technologies and high-growth sectors, the Government and industry will need to work together to ensure Ireland remains an attractive destination for international talent.
Research from the Stepstone Group earlier this year revealed that Ireland fell four places to rank 36 in the most attractive countries for professionals to relocate. Addressing the infrastructure challenges that the economy faces, particularly in housing supply, will be important to ensure that the country continues to attract highly skilled talent that can support growth across the economy.
Revealing his hiring predictions for 2025, Sam Dooley, Country Director of the Stepstone Group with responsibility for IrishJobs, commented, “By spotlighting the key challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, the Stepstone Group hopes to support companies across the country better navigate an evolving recruitment landscape and meet their talent needs in 2025.
As we look towards a new year, it’s clear that advancements in AI will have a transformative impact on the recruitment landscape in Ireland. AI tools and technologies can help automate many manual tasks in hiring and drive greater productivity.
With low levels of unemployment set to continue in 2025, combined with skills shortages across many sectors, employers will also need to remain attuned to the evolving needs of professionals as they compete to attract and retain high-calibre talent. IrishJobs research shows the importance of hybrid working arrangements continues to rise in the agenda of professionals in Ireland and should be considered by employers as part of their talent offering.”
For more, visit: https://www.irishjobs.ie/.
