Ireland’s professional jobs market became more selective in Q2 2026, with demand strongest in AI, finance, life sciences and construction roles.
Irish employers have adopted a more measured and selective approach to recruitment during Q2 2026.
According to the latest Morgan McKinley Ireland Employment Monitor professional job openings fell by 7.2% compared with the first quarter of the year and were down 9.9% year-on-year.
“AI is sharpening that shift. It is not simply creating new roles; it is giving employers a reason to look again at the structure of existing roles”
The number of jobseekers declined by 6.8% quarter-on-quarter, although candidate availability remained significantly higher than a year ago, rising to 18.4%.
👉 Ready to reclaim an extra day a week? Secure your Google AI Professional Certificate at no cost. Apply now and get started!
Trayc Keevans, global FDI director at Morgan McKinley said the findings point to a market where companies are continuing to hire but are placing greater scrutiny on permanent recruitment decisions as they balance growth ambitions with cost management, productivity targets and workforce strategies.
Where demand is strongest
The report found that demand remained strongest in areas linked to regulation, risk, infrastructure, business transformation, artificial intelligence, data and specialist project delivery.
Contract and temporary hiring continued to play a prominent role as organisations sought flexibility while maintaining momentum on key projects.
“The professional employment market is entering a more disciplined phase. Employers remain active but are placing greater emphasis on hiring with precision,” Keevans explained.
“Companies still have work to deliver, but they are being far more cautious about adding permanent headcount. That is why hiring processes are slower and vacancies are lower, as organisations balance growth ambitions with cost management, while contract talent continues to provide the flexibility many businesses need.
“The result is a clear shift in bargaining power. Employers have more choice, wage pressure has eased and candidates are having to work harder to show why they should be hired. A strong CV is no longer enough on its own. Employers want evidence of impact, whether that is improving performance, adding value, reducing risk, managing change, or helping a business become more productive.”
Artificial intelligence is also influencing recruitment decisions, with employers assessing how new technologies affect workforce requirements and job design. While demand for AI expertise remains strong, organisations are increasingly focused on governance, management and measurable business outcomes from AI investments.
“AI is sharpening that shift,” Keevans said. “It is not simply creating new roles; it is giving employers a reason to look again at the structure of existing roles. If parts of a job can be automated, simplified or absorbed by existing teams, employers will question whether that role needs to be replaced in the same way.
“That does not mean AI is about to wipe out professional jobs. The more immediate impact is fewer automatic replacements, more pressure on routine administrative and operational work, and greater value placed on judgement, commercial thinking, regulation, client management, and technical expertise.
“The risk for employers is mistaking caution for strategy. If they hold back too much, they may find themselves short of the skills they need when momentum returns.”
Recruitment trends by sector
Technology and financial services hiring remained active in Q2, although employers took a more targeted approach to recruitment. In technology, demand was strongest for contractors in AI engineering, software development, data, cloud, DevOps and governance roles, particularly in Dublin, as companies focused investment on AI services, cybersecurity, compliance and cost management.
Financial services recruitment was steady, driven by specialist positions in risk, compliance, regulatory reporting, credit risk, AML, KYC, pensions and financial crime, while growing investment in climate, energy and infrastructure projects supported demand for corporate finance, lending and financial modelling expertise.
Accounting and finance continued to perform relatively well despite softer permanent hiring in Dublin and the South-West, with employers seeking talent in tax, payroll, financial accounting, FP&A, credit control and business partnering roles.
Life sciences and engineering remained heavily reliant on contract talent, particularly in quality assurance, clinical trials, automation, validation and process engineering, as companies balanced project delivery with hiring flexibility.
Construction was among the strongest-performing sectors, supported by major infrastructure developments and ongoing skills shortages, with sustained demand for quantity surveyors, estimators, project managers, site engineers, project planners and mechanical and electrical professionals.
👉 No tech background needed to bring your business into the AI age! Secure your Google AI Professional Certificate to complete the certification at no cost. Apply now and get started!
-
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
