Graduate hiring falls as career paths become less linear

One in three Irish workers are employed in careers unrelated to their studies as graduate job postings fall and competition intensifies.

More than one in three Irish workers are employed in careers unrelated to what they studied in college, according to new research from recruitment platform Indeed, highlighting the increasingly varied routes people take from education into employment.

The study of 1,000 workers and jobseekers in Ireland found that 56% said their college degree directly relates to their current career. However, 36% said they now work in a field that is not connected to what they studied.

The research comes as Indeed data shows graduate job postings in Ireland have fallen by 9% since 2024, creating a more competitive environment for those entering the workforce.

KEY NUMBERS: Irish Education and Careers

• 36% working outside their field of study
  • 56% say degree directly matches career
  • Graduate job postings down 9% since 2024
  • 59% say education prepared them for work
  • 32% lacked interview preparation support
  • 30% felt unprepared for CV writing
  • 24% of young adults unsure which jobs to apply for
  • 56% of 18-24-year-olds struggle to show job fit
  • 81% of young workers have a dream job

Editorial takeaway: Irish workers are increasingly following non-linear career paths, while graduates face a tougher jobs market and continue to report gaps in practical career-readiness skills.

Careers increasingly unrelated to degrees

The link between education and employment varies considerably by sector. Workers in Arts & Culture are most likely to report a direct connection between their studies and career, with 80% saying their education relates to their current role. This is followed by Education (75%), Finance (69%), Healthcare (65%) and IT & Telecoms (65%).

At the other end of the spectrum, almost half of workers in Retail, Catering & Leisure (49%) said their education does not relate to their current career. Similar findings emerged in Manufacturing & Utilities (47%), while 42% of workers in both Travel & Transport and Legal professions said their studies are unrelated to the jobs they hold today.

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The findings suggest that while formal education remains an important foundation for many careers, a significant proportion of workers are using their qualifications and transferable skills in ways they may not have originally anticipated.

The research also found that nearly six in ten Irish workers (59%) believe their school or university education prepared them for building a career. However, respondents identified several areas where they felt education had left them less prepared.

Interview preparation topped the list, cited by 32% of respondents, followed by writing CVs and job applications (30%). Around one-quarter said they received insufficient preparation for building a long-term career plan (26%), identifying jobs that match their skills and interests (26%), and understanding available career paths (24%).

Challenges appear particularly acute for younger people beginning their careers.

Among 18 to 24-year-olds, almost one in four (24%) said knowing which jobs to apply for was one of their biggest challenges when entering the labour market. More than one in five (21%) reported difficulty standing out from other applicants, while 56% said they struggle to explain why they are the best fit for a role during applications or interviews.

Despite these hurdles, career ambitions remain high among younger workers, with 81% saying they have a dream job they would like to achieve.

Commenting on the findings, Derek Diviney, vice-president at Indeed, said: “There can be a huge amount of pressure on students to feel that choosing a college course or first job means choosing their entire career. But these findings show that the reality is often much more flexible. For many people, their education does provide a direct route into the career they want, but for others, the skills and knowledge they gain take them somewhere they may not originally have expected.

“That ability to recognise and apply skills is becoming increasingly important, particularly in a competitive and rapidly changing job market. A qualification can open doors, but students and graduates should also think about the wider skills they are developing, and how those could be valuable across different roles and industries.

“Understanding your strengths, being able to communicate them clearly and remaining open to different opportunities can help people navigate a changing world of work and discover career paths they may not otherwise have considered.”

The findings coincide with the launch of Indeed’s Career Scout service in Ireland, which is designed to help jobseekers explore career options, identify transferable skills and navigate the recruitment process with greater confidence.

The research was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Indeed among 1,000 workers and jobseekers in Ireland during June 2026.