Irish workers are doubling-down on flexibility and stability
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Why are Irish workers prioritizing flexibility and stability?
So Irish workers are doubling down on flexibility and stability as employers take a wait-and-see approach following the budget. That's according to Matrix Recruitment's latest Workforce Trends Report for Q3. And we're joined now by the Head of Recruitment at Matrix Recruitment, Brida Dooley. Good morning, Brida.
Good morning, Tom.
So, Brida, you're saying that employees are opting more for flexibility while employers are more likely to go for contracts and temporary extensions. Is it that employees are opting for greater inflexibility or that they have no choice because that's the way that employers are going?
Employees are, I suppose, for the last two years, they've always been looking for stability. They want flexibility. They want the hybrid work and definitely want this work-life balance. While salaries do matter, they do want a culture where they can... This is one of their major decision drivers. So work-life balance is definitely the new currency. Hybrid is no longer a perk. It's an expectation as well. But contracting, we did see that surge towards the end of quarter three. particularly in the areas of finance, engineering and healthcare. And employers, I suppose, had to use contracts to maintain output and flexibility while, you know, they were waiting for the budget and there was a little bit of economic landscape unsettled there, out there.
So contracting was becoming a more strategic part of the workforce model for companies. And they were seeing, and it wasn't just a stock gap. And contract, I suppose, it does benefit both the employee and the employer, it does allow a lot more flexibility for the employee. And we are seeing a lot more of the niche, skilled professionals looking for contract work. That also allows the employer to align it and have more flexibility in their business too.
Now, niche skilled professionals have for some time been looking more towards contract work. I'm thinking obviously of tech consultants. But are you seeing that the tendency towards contract work is moving into other areas?
Absolutely. We are seeing this more across, you know, the engineering side of it, the finance side of it, obviously the tech sector too as well. And then we are seeing this in some of the health care sectors as well. People want that kind of flexibility.
What trends are emerging in employee contracts and hiring?
You know, they take on a contract for 24 months and then they develop really new good skills in that and allows them then to go into another company and use those skills as well. So it's definitely something that employees in the professional service are looking at.
Now, you said that employers are taking a wait and see following changes in the budget. What changes in the budget and what are they waiting for?
I suppose what we did see that employers paused some decisions ahead of the budget. What we are now seeing are renewed planning. The increase in the minimum wage, you know, that, you know, they were waiting to see. They wanted more clarity. before they made decisions. So now that they have the budget, there is that clarity now and they can start planning out there for growth in 2026.
Brida, how would you describe the mood of the jobs market at the moment, both from an employer and employee point of view?
I would say the market is absolutely steady. It's a resilient market out there. Hiring, it hasn't stopped, but I can certainly say it's not booming to where it was in 2026 and to 2023. Companies are, we are seeing they are protecting their key talent. They are kind of extending contracts and there's a lot more focus on retention and skills development. They are looking internally at their staff and seeing who are our core team here. Who do we want to retain in this? So we will continue to develop them. and offer kind of career progressions. If a company is offering career progressions within an organisation, they will retain their staff. So employers are engaging, managing costs more responsibly while they're preparing for growth in 2026.
So I say the market is steady. is cautious, but is certainly confident.
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