Data from IrishJobs shows that site managers were the top profession sought by employers, with demand increasing by 39% year-on-year. The construction sector dominated the rankings of in-demand roles, with site engineers in third place and project managers in fourth. Demand for site engineers rose by 15%, while project managers saw a 10% increase.

Accountants secured the second spot on the list of most sought-after professionals, with nurses, accountants, and financial accountants also featuring prominently in employer demand this year.

Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland, which oversees IrishJobs, commented:

“Amid near record-low unemployment, businesses in Ireland are grappling with an exceptionally tight labour market, making it challenging to attract and retain top-tier talent.

“Our latest data, drawn from searches of the IrishJobs TalentBank—a database of 1.4 million CVs across Ireland—highlights the sectors experiencing significant skills shortages. The sharp rise in demand for construction professionals reflects the magnitude of the challenge in meeting the sector’s talent needs.

“With mounting pressure to ramp up construction activity to meet Ireland’s ambitious housing targets, the demand for skilled talent in construction is set to grow further. Beyond construction, our findings also point to increasing shortages in complementary areas such as skilled trades and engineering.

“Addressing these shortages is crucial for achieving Ireland’s housing and infrastructure goals. Greater investment in skills training, along with strategies like international recruitment, will be essential to meet the rising demand in these key sectors.”