A majority of staff at Irish companies are reporting financial stress, according to a survey by recruiter CPL. In its 2025 salary guide, CPL found that some 61 per cent of employees said they felt financially strained.
In addition, a majority of candidates said they would turn down a new post if it didn’t meet their hybrid working needs.
Comprehensive wellbeing programmes are “no longer a luxury”, the recruiter said, “but a necessity for building a resilient and productive workforce”.
Against the current economic backdrop and a tight labour market, an overwhelming 84 per cent of employers said they were planning salary increases averaging 3.4 per cent this year.
However, CPL said it was clear financial incentives alone are no longer a guarantee that firms will be able to attract and retain talent.
Employees are increasingly prioritising professional development and meaningful work, according to the report, with 85 per cent of professionals citing learning opportunities as critical to their career decisions.
Five years on from the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the report also underlines the enduring popularity of hybrid and remote working arrangements.
“Our own research shows that 60 per cent of candidates would turn down a new position if it didn’t meet their hybrid working needs,” said Áine Fanning, chief sales and marketing officer at CPL Ireland
“However, the dynamic is shifting as we are beginning to see a decrease in fully remote job postings but also in hybrid. This trend suggests that the future of work in Ireland will require a thoughtful balance to ensure that operational needs align with the flexibility employees value.”
Ms Fanning said employers are facing an ever-more complex set of challenges when it comes to filling roles.
While employment is expected to reach a record 2.77 million people in 2025, the report notes, some organisations are cutting jobs and announcing restructuring programmes.
It means that employers are facing “increasing competition for skilled professionals while also balancing workforce expectations and managing headcount and operational costs”, CPL said in the report.
- Sign up for the Business Today newsletter and get the latest business news and commentary in your inbox every weekday morning
- Opt in to Business push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Our Inside Business podcast is published weekly – Find the latest episode here
