More than half of Irish employers report struggling to retain staff in 2025 versus 2024.
55% of Irish employers state they are struggling more to retain and attract talent this year, compared to 2024.
New data from talent business Robert Walters shows that strong demand in a number of sectors is ramping up competition between top employers in Ireland.
“A positive workplace culture will in turn boost engagement and morale levels, which will inevitably lead to improved productivity, rates of attraction and lower staff turnover”
How this might change in terms of the economic havoc wreaked by the Trump administration’s global tariff onslaught will however, remain to be seen.
But currently the picture remains strong, says Suzanne Feeney, country manager at Robert Walters Ireland.
Hybrid working remains important
“The Irish jobs market looks like it could go from strength-to-strength this year – with a rebound in growth on the cards and unemployment remaining low, there is lots to be optimistic about,” Feeney said.
“Compensation, culture, progression and hybrid working continue to be top priorities for professionals – and if Irish employers wish to attract top talent, they must response accordingly. Tailoring their offerings to ensure they remain attractive in a market where competition is at an all-time high.”
When asked what they thought was impacting their ability to attract and retain staff, the majority (60%) of Irish employers stated high competition.
Indeed, data from Indeed revealed that job postings in Ireland were almost 19% above pre-pandemic levels in mid-January of this year.
This is translating into high competition across the board in professional services sectors in Ireland – especially within IT, Accounting and Insurance. With top skills in demand being analytical skills, data analysis, customer relationship management and SQL.
“It can’t be ignored that hiring competition is at record levels. With counteroffers once again becoming the norm, it is time for organisations to really pull out the stops if they want to attract top talent.”
Other issues stated were professionals’ too high salary expectations (22%) and having to juggle tighter hiring budgets (18%).
Conversely, almost three-quarters (72%) of Irish professionals still think their employer doesn’t take the time to listen to what they want – whilst under a fifth think they do only ‘sometimes’.
Indeed, less than a fifth (16%) of Irish professionals think that what they want or expect out of employers will be classed as a key factor in driving change in the workplace this year.
“Now, more than ever employers should be going to lengths to take heed of employee demands – those who fail to do so risk diminished returns when it comes to attracting and retaining staff,” Feeney said.
Culture and management
When asked what the most appealing things an employer could offer (outside of base salary) over two-fifths (43%) stated a good workplace culture and community.
Data from Ireland’s Great Place to Work award found that 93% of employees in companies certified Ireland’s Best Workplaces felt their organisation was a friendly place to work – vs. just 68% of non-certified workplaces.
Other important attractions for professionals were employers providing relevant benefits (27%) and career advancement opportunities (24%).
Robert Walters’ Benefits Guide found that the top three most important workplace benefits according to Irish professionals were health and medical insurance (89%), bonus schemes (82%) and work from home subsidies and equipment (61%).
Often central to a good workplace culture is employees and teams having positive working relationships with their immediate managers. Being their main touchpoint, managers have an unofficial role as the face of workplace culture.
However, the Robert Walters poll found a surprising 89% of Irish professionals have admitted to quitting a role due to a bad relationship with their line manager.
“Although salaries play an essential role in attraction and retention, there are other crucial factors employers shouldn’t overlook.
“Managers play a huge part in professional’s experience of a workplace and as such, they should be trained to give their teams the best experience possible. A positive workplace culture will in turn boost engagement and morale levels, which will inevitably lead to improved productivity, rates of attraction and lower staff turnover,” Feeney said.
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