Updated / 26th September, 2025

The August findings highlight a resilient market:

• Permanent roles: 24% of recruiters reported an increase in vacancies compared with July, while 40% saw placement levels unchanged. Pay rates were stable for 86% of roles.
• Contract roles: Just over one in five recruiters (21%) saw placements rise, while more than half (52%) reported stability. Pay remained unchanged for 84%.
• Temporary roles: Vacancies increased for 30% of recruiters, with nearly half (48%) reporting placements steady. Pay rates were stable for 80%.

Looking ahead, 58% of recruiters expect vacancies to grow in the next three months, while almost six in ten (59%) anticipate the supply of qualified candidates will remain unchanged.

The Monitor also shows a shift compared to earlier in the year. In February, nearly four in ten recruiters reported vacancy growth in permanent roles, while August data suggests a more cautious but stabilising outlook. This builds on quarterly findings from Q1 showing unemployment at 4.0% (CSO) one of the lowest in the EU and employment at a record 2.78 million people, supported by strong wage growth and rising female participation.

“The data points to resilience in the labour market. Employers are holding pay steady while continuing to hire, even as inflationary pressures and wider economic uncertainty remain,” said Siobhán Kinsella, President of the ERF. “Skills shortages continue to be the main constraint, particularly in specialist and high-demand sectors, and that will shape how growth is sustained into 2026. As we approach Budget 2026, Government must prioritise measures to ease employment costs for businesses and accelerate investment in skills, so that resilience today translates into long-term opportunity.”

The ERF is already addressing these challenges through initiatives such as the Recruitment Executive Apprenticeship, a QQI-accredited programme with the National College of Ireland that enables employers to build in-house recruitment capability while giving learners a clear pathway into a professional career.

The ERF Monitor provides a monthly snapshot of hiring sentiment and activity nationwide. Its latest findings align with CSO data showing a modest year-on-year rise in employment, despite ongoing pressures on candidate supply.

For Information:   

SHARON BANNERTON ¦ Managing Director, BANNERTON ¦ Mobile: + 353 87 673 1100 ¦ Email: Sharon@BANNERTON.ie 

Editor's Notes:
The Irish Labour Monthly Monitor is commissioned by the Employment & Recruitment Federation (ERF) and supported by ICON Accounting. Findings are based on survey responses from recruitment and talent firms across Ireland. The ERF represents over 200 member companies and works to maintain standards, provide training, and advocate on industry issues impacting the labour market.

The Employment & Recruitment Federation is a voluntary organisation set up to establish and maintain standards and codes of practice for the recruitment industry. 

Representing over 200 member companies throughout Ireland, the ERF develops and promotes education and training, and provides information and advice on the sector, as well as members services such as vetting, and lobbying on policy and industry issues impacting the labour market.