What to expect from the tech contractor market in 2025 

The adoption of emerging technologies continues to shape business priorities across Ireland, and to deliver these programmes of work, employers are turning to the specialist expertise of tech contractors.  

However, insights from the 2025 Hays Technology Contractor Day Rate Guide indicate that there are still challenges being faced when trying to secure contractors. Read on to discover the key trends from our guide and get a better idea of what you can expect from the tech contractor market in 2025. 

Skills shortages persist in tech 

The speed at which the tech landscape is changing is putting extra pressure on organisations in terms of skills gaps. This, in turn, is driving demand for contractors with certain technical skills, including data and software engineering, cyber security, AI and machine learning, and AI ethics and governance.  

Soft skills are also important for contractors to develop. In particular, employers are on the lookout for those with strong stakeholder management and communication skills, commercial awareness, and the ability to adapt to change.  

AI dominates demand for tech contractors 

Implementing AI tools and technologies continues to be high on the agenda across many Irish organisations. According to the 2025 Hays Employment Trends – Spring Update, there has been an uplift in the proportion of employers who are recommending their staff to use AI in the workplace, rising from 36% in 2024 to 49% in 2025. Furthermore, data from the Hays Global Tech Talent Explorer highlights advancements in AI and machine learning as being the most significant predicted change to the technology sector this year, according to 64% of technology professionals. 

As organisations invest more in their AI capabilities, tech contractors will be a crucial source of specialist skills and expertise for employers to lean on when driving their investments to successful business outcomes.  

Day rates rising for hard-to-find expertise 

AI is also impacting the day rates being offered to secure in-demand tech contractor talent. Although overall day rates have remained largely stable over the last year, certain roles, such as governance and intelligent automation, are seeing above-average rate rises driven by AI investment and a lack of professionals possessing this expertise.  

Those in leadership positions are also seeing above average day rate increases as organisations turn to experienced specialists to help them navigate a quickly evolving tech landscape.  

Contractors want more than just a competitive day rate 

Whilst a competitive day rate will always be a key part of any talent attraction strategy, contractors are becoming more selective in the roles they choose, which can make it difficult to secure the skills you need. For example, the opportunity to work in a flexible way is key for attracting contractors, with many wanting to work fully remotely or have a flexible working schedule. This may go against the trend of some organisations implementing a return-to-office policy. However, if you’re engaging with tech contractors this year, considering what flexibility your organisation can offer may make the difference between securing a contractor, or losing them to a competitor.  

Other factors that appeal to tech contractors when deciding on a new role include how collaborative and supportive your team is, whether they'll be working in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and having the opportunity to work on challenging projects or with emerging technologies. To stand out from the crowd, employers should make sure they include information about these key differentiators in their job adverts and during interviews.  

Get your hiring plans on the right track 

As AI in the workplace continues to evolve at pace, accessing the right tech contractors at the right time will be vital to delivering your technology objectives. Understanding what makes contractors tick, benchmarking the day rates you offer, and strengthening your employee value proposition will all play a key part in securing the right tech talent in the year ahead.  

Discover more insights into the tech contractor market, plus average day rates for roles across multiple specialist areas, by accessing the 2025 Hays Tech Contractor Day Rate Guide.