Recruitment agency Morgan McKinley says Ireland’s jobs market is becoming more “candidates-driven” as firms compete to secure top talent.

The firm’s latest employment monitor recorded a 37 per cent jump in professional posts available in January compared with the previous month.

In total, there were 13,173 vacancies advertised last month compared with 9,646 in December.

The recruiter also noted there was a 50 per cent month-on-month increase in the number of professionals active in the job market in January.

“Growing demand for candidates is leading to increased urgency in hiring processes as employers are becoming aware of the need to move quickly to secure top talent,” it said.

The monitor said that for in-demand sectors such as IT, candidates were receiving and accepting counter-offers from existing employers “proving the job market is becoming more candidates-driven”.

The research also pointed to an uptake in administrative roles within construction reflecting increased activity in the sector.

In the engineering sector, it said new companies were entering the Irish market, and candidates with “start-up or green field experience” were in demand.

Operations director with Morgan McKinley Ireland Bryan Hyland said: "Both indigenous and multilingual organisations are seeing an uplift in business driven by general economic growth both internationally and domestically."

“With many professionals in high demand, in many cases having multiple job offers, more employers are aware of the need to expedite the interview process and engage with the prospective hire.”

“On the flip side, it is more apparent that employers are counter-offering employees who are considering leaving, creating additional options for professionals on the move,” he said.

EOIN BURKE-KENNEDY