Updated / 27th May 2026

The Employment and Recruitment Federation (ERF), the representative body for Ireland's recruitment and staffing industry, has agreed a partnership with The Recruitment Network.

The deal opens cross-border benefits to over 200 ERF members firms in Ireland and to TRN's international membership as Ireland prepares for the EU presidency.

TRN is an international advisory organisation used by recruitment leaders in the UK, mainland Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East.

ERF members also gain direct access to TRN's international playbooks, advisory clinics, performance benchmarking and peer learning with recruitment leaders in larger international markets, alongside a digital platform of operational tools previously out of reach for most Irish agencies.

TRN members operating in or expanding into Ireland gain access to the ERF membership lounge, places on ERF Education programmes at the ERF member rate, and the ERF member rate on Garda Vetting.

The partnership comes as Irish hiring confidence is shifting, with ERF's Q1 Irish Labour Market Monitor finding the share of recruiters reporting an increase in permanent vacancies fell from 52% in January to 28% in March.

Skills availability identified by seven in 10 member agencies as the biggest challenge in the market.

The sharpest shortages are in healthcare, engineering, accountancy and finance, construction and IT, the sectors driving foreign direct investment and underpinning Ireland’s housing, infrastructure and public services commitments.

“Ireland’s recruitment industry is operating in a more cautious market, but not a weak one. Employers are still hiring, but they are more selective, particularly where longer-term commitments are concerned," said Geraldine King, CEO of ERF.

"As Ireland prepares to take on the EU Presidency, the recruitment industry has a responsibility to be operating to the highest international standard, and this partnership brings that standard within reach of every ERF member while giving international firms a credible route into the Irish market through the country’s representative body.”

James Osborne, co-founder of The Recruitment Network, said, “Ireland is one of the most professionally led recruitment markets in Europe.

"ERF members are competing with global staffing groups for the same multinational client mandates, often headquartered in Dublin.

"Working with ERF puts the right operational infrastructure behind that ambition and gives our international membership a properly structured entry into Ireland.”

About the Employment & Recruitment Federation (ERF)