One in 10 job adverts now mention artificial intelligence, while remote and hybrid working cements its place as a standard feature of the labour market.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved firmly into the mainstream of Ireland’s jobs market, with more than one in 10 job postings now referencing AI, according to new research from Indeed.
The share, at 11%, is higher than in larger economies including the UK, US, France and Germany, underlining the central role technology continues to play in Ireland’s economic model.
The findings are drawn from Indeed’s 2026 Trends Report, which tracks changes in job postings, wages and jobseeker behaviour across the Irish labour market.
The report shows AI is no longer confined to a narrow set of specialist roles. While the highest concentration of AI mentions remains in technical areas such as data and analytics, software development and IT systems, a growing number of non-technical functions are also advertising for AI-related skills.
Where AI is now part of the job
More than half of job postings in data and analytics now reference AI, rising to 56%. Software development follows at 48%, with IT systems and solutions at 37% and IT infrastructure and operations at 29%. Beyond core technology roles, AI features in almost a quarter of postings in arts and entertainment, one in five roles in human resources, and close to one in five sales roles.
Indeed says this reflects a broadening expectation among employers that workers, regardless of function, are comfortable using AI tools as part of their day-to-day work.
At the same time, remote and hybrid working has become an established feature of job adverts. By the end of December 2025, 19.4% of Irish job postings mentioned some form of remote or hybrid work, a new high and more than four times the level seen before the pandemic.
The highest shares are again found in knowledge-intensive roles, with nearly half of software development postings referencing flexible working, alongside media and communications and data and analytics roles.
The report suggests that flexibility has moved from a differentiator to a baseline expectation for many candidates, particularly in competitive labour markets.
Despite a cooling from the hiring boom of early 2022, overall job postings in Ireland remain resilient. As of January 2026, postings were still 7% above their pre-pandemic baseline and have been broadly stable since last May. Indeed’s data points to a labour market that has settled into a steadier rhythm rather than one experiencing a sharp slowdown.
Other elements of the employment offer appear to have reached a plateau. Salary transparency has slipped in recent months, with just 34% of job postings now including pay information, the lowest share since late 2022. Indeed notes that this comes ahead of incoming EU legislation, which the Irish government is in the process of transposing, and which is expected to increase pay transparency requirements for employers.
Mentions of benefits have also levelled off. Around 48% of job postings referenced at least one benefit in November, unchanged from May 2024, following several years of steady growth.
Ireland continues to attract strong international interest from jobseekers. In 2025, an average of 13% of searches for Irish jobs on Indeed originated from outside the country, broadly in line with 2024 and higher than levels seen at any point since at least 2017.
Pay pressures, meanwhile, remain evident. Posted wage growth stood at 4.1% in December on a three-month average basis, well above the euro area average of 2.5%, according to the Indeed Wage Tracker.
Irish economy in good shape
Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Indeed, said Ireland was entering 2026 with the economy on a solid footing, even as growth is expected to moderate after a strong 2025.
“Ireland enters 2026 with the economy in good shape,” he said. “Growth is set to slow slightly after a strong 2025, but lower interest rates and continued government spending mean the outlook remains broadly positive. Jobs are still being created, unemployment remains low, but pay pressures have not gone away.”
For jobseekers, Kennedy said the spread of AI across job roles was reshaping expectations in the labour market.
“AI is rapidly reshaping how work gets done, with a clear expectation emerging for workers across all sectors to be comfortable using AI tools, even in roles that are not traditionally tech-focused,” he said. “Those who adapt to these skills will have a competitive edge, as employers increasingly seek ways to integrate AI into their processes.”
Employers, he added, would need to respond to shifting expectations around flexibility and transparency.
“Hybrid and flexible working have moved from a perk to an expectation in 2026,” Kennedy said. “The organisations that will stand out will be those offering not just competitive salaries, but transparency, flexibility and support for employees navigating a rapidly changing work environment.”
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
