3 employment trends to watch in 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Ireland’s job market. Findings from our 2026 Salary & Recruiting Trends research, based on insights from our survey of over 600 employers and professionals across Ireland, show an employment landscape full of opportunity – but also challenges.

Business leaders are focused on growing revenues, market expansion and driving operational efficiencies in the months ahead. Having the right people in place will be crucial for organisations to achieve these goals, but employers must navigate a complex hiring market. For employees, upskilling, career growth and balance are key priorities for 2026.

Read on to discover three employment trends that could define the year ahead.

Skills shortages persist – and could impact hiring plans

According to our 2026 Salary & Recruiting Trends research, nearly nine out of ten employers plan to hire in the next 12 months, showing no change from last year. This sustained focus on hiring presents an opportunity to those thinking about a job move in the year ahead.

But skills shortages remain a persistent problem, with nearly all employers (96%) saying they have faced them in the last year. Add the ongoing uptake of AI at work into the mix, and this only serves to exacerbate knowledge gaps – our research shows that just 5% of Irish employers feel they have all the right skills at hand to make the best use of AI technologies.

Employers therefore need to think carefully about which skills are absolutely required when hiring, and invest in upskilling to overcome the skills gaps they face. For employees, doubling down on continuous learning, especially in areas like AI, will help you to stay ahead and stand out to prospective employers when job hunting.

Career growth matters more than ever

Job satisfaction has seen a downward turn over the last year. The main culprit for this? A lack of career progression and development.

Our findings show that employers and employees don’t agree on the career progression opportunities currently available. Almost half of professionals don’t feel there’s scope to move ahead in their career at their current job, whereas four-fifths of employers think there are ample opportunities for their staff to progress.

With 59% of professionals saying they plan to move jobs in the next 12 months, organisations that can showcase clear career pathways, mentorship programmes, and internal development opportunities will be at an advantage when hiring. For employees thinking about making a move, check out our free CV template, which can help you to clearly showcase your key skills and attributes to take that next step in your career.

Flexibility is defining work-life balance

Our survey findings indicate a decline in work-life balance ratings amongst Irish employees – 46% rate theirs as average or poor, up from 36% who said the same last year. Furthermore, almost 60% of employees say they regularly work overtime.

To improve their work-life balance, professionals would most like to change their working hours, including flexible working. However, more than one in ten organisations say they want to reduce the flexible work options available and bring more staff on-site in the future, which could further affect work-life balance ratings.

Employers planning to take this approach should consider the impacts not only on existing staff – especially on different demographics – but also its impact on hiring, given that half of employees would not consider accepting a job in the future that doesn’t offer hybrid working.

If you’re part of the nearly 50% with low work-life balance ratings, keeping an eye out for the signs of burnout and speaking to someone can help you to protect your wellbeing. And if hybrid working is a non-negotiable for you, ensure you ask about an organisation’s flexible working policies during interviews.

For an exclusive first look at the latest employment insights, register for our 2026 Salary & Recruiting Trends guide launch webinar on 19^th November.