Three-quarters of Irish recruiters faced challenges finding qualified talent in the past year according to a new survey from professional network LinkedIn.
The primary barrier identified by the research was finding candidates with the right technical skills, which was flagged by over half of HR professionals.
Despite ongoing challenges, optimism in the job market remains, with two-thirds of recruiters planning to hire more in 2025 compared to last year.
70% of HR professionals reported spending more time proactively sourcing candidates due to a lack of qualified applicants, with only 40% of applications on average meeting all preferred qualifications.
In addition to the challenge, just under three-quarters of recruiters believe that many Irish professionals are leaving full-time education without the essential soft skills they need in the modern workplace.
It also found just over two-thirds of HR professionals identified upskilling on AI as a key priority.
AI-powered tools are also making an impact on hiring processes. Just over seven in ten (71%) recruiters say use of AI in the hiring process has helped them to find candidates faster, while 68% report reduced hiring costs due to increased efficiency.
The research also reveals that ‘ghosting’ is an issue when it comes to recruitment.
Nearly half of Irish professionals surveyed said they have experienced not hearing back from a company after applying for a position.
At the same time, seven in ten recruiters admitted that they were unable to individually respond to every application due to the volume of applicants.
69% of HR professionals acknowledged that failing to respond could harm their company’s image and more than three-quarters flagged the need for additional tools and resources to improve candidate communication.
“The tight labour market in Ireland continues to present challenges for employers, especially when it comes to finding candidates with the right skills,” said LinkedIn Head of Ireland Sue Duke.
“However, we’re seeing a positive shift with companies focusing on upskilling their teams as a solution to close these gaps,” she said.
“AI is rapidly transforming the workplace, and with it comes both challenges and opportunities,” Ms Duke said.
The research was conducted by Censuswide, surveying 500 HR professionals and talent acquisition leaders.
Research was also conducted among 1,002 respondents aged 18-77 across Ireland.
