Ireland’s Employment Outlook Remains Strong in Q1 2026
Irish employers continue to demonstrate confidence in their hiring intentions, according to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey for Q1 2026. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty globally, Ireland has recorded a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 31%, placing the country fifth globally and 7 points above the global average.
The survey, which gathered responses from 420 employers across Ireland, highlights sustained hiring momentum as organisations plan staffing levels for the period between January and March 2026.
Hiring optimism driven by growth
Overall hiring sentiment remains robust, with 43% of employers planning to increase staff, while 39% expect no change to workforce levels. Only 14% anticipate reductions, and uncertainty remains low, with just 4% unsure of their hiring plans.
The outlook has increased by 2 points quarter-on-quarter and is 5 points higher than the same period last year, reflecting continued business expansion as the primary driver of hiring activity.
Sector highlights: Tech leads the way
Employment outlooks remain positive across all key industry sectors, with particularly strong momentum in:
Tech & IT – NEO of 49%, the strongest of all sectors
Construction & Real Estate – NEO of 42%, reflecting continued infrastructure and development activity
Manufacturing – Solid hiring intentions amid steady demand
Finance & Insurance also showed notable year-on-year improvement, underlining the breadth of hiring confidence across the Irish economy.
Medium-sized organisations show exceptional confidence
Irish organisations with 50–249 employees reported an NEO of 48%, representing:
A 15-point increase since last quarter
A 20-point increase year-on-year
This marks the highest employment outlook ever recorded for this organisation size since tracking began in Q1 2005, positioning Ireland third globally for hiring confidence among medium-sized organisations.
Regional hiring trends
All five Irish regions expect employment growth in Q1 2026. The Ulster region stands out with the strongest outlook, while expectations have strengthened in three regions compared to both last quarter and last year.
This regional consistency highlights that hiring optimism is not confined to a single location, but is evident nationwide.
Ireland’s position on the global stage
Globally, Ireland continues to perform strongly, ranking behind only a small number of countries including India (52%) and Brazil (54%). With a global average NEO of 24%, Ireland’s 31% outlook reflects a comparatively resilient labour market.
Balancing opportunity and risk
Commenting on the findings, Jonny Edgar, Managing Director of ManpowerGroup Ireland, noted that while the Irish economy remains resilient and government spending may stimulate opportunity, risks such as inflationary pressures and reliance on multinational corporate tax revenue could impact employer confidence in the future.
Nevertheless, employers continue to signal optimism as they navigate a complex economic environment.
Looking ahead
As Ireland enters 2026, the employment outlook suggests steady and sustained growth rather than volatility. With strong hiring intentions across sectors, regions, and organisation sizes, employers appear cautiously optimistic — balancing expansion plans with economic realities.
