New data published by LinkedIn has revealed that labour markets across EMEA slackened in October, highlighting the growing competition professionals face to secure a new job. Job seekers are instead countering this trend by reducing their search intensity in favour of “job hugging” – the trend of staying put.
In Ireland, job search intensity – the ratio of applications to applicants – fell by -3.9% year-on-year in October, over double the rate of decline in several EMEA-LATAM countries during the month, averaging at -1.5% YoY. Only the United Kingdom (down -9.4% YoY), France (-5.6%), and Germany (-4.4%) recorded higher falls than Ireland.
Ireland continues to lead the way on flexible work
Hybrid work remains the most popular flexible working option offered by companies in Ireland, with 37.3% of all job postings in October offered as hybrid. Ireland ties with the United Kingdom for the highest availability of hybrid across EMEA, above the average of 30.8% of job postings advertised as hybrid across the region during the same period.
Ireland also ranks highly for pure remote positions, placing second in EMEA with 8.2% of all job postings offering the opportunity to work exclusively from home. Ireland ranks second only to the UK (8.6%) and also surpasses the European average (5.3%.) Remote roles remain some of the most in demand jobs, making up 14.7% of job applications in EMEA. Demand in Ireland was higher, with applications for remote jobs making up almost one in five (18.4%) job applications.
Green talent more likely to land jobs
LinkedIn’s Green Skills Report 2025 has also revealed green talent is far more likely to secure a job, getting hired at a global rate of 46.6% above the global hiring rate. Across the world, Energy Management is the fastest-growing green skill category. The proportion of LinkedIn members that added this skill was 17.4% higher in 2025 than in 2024. A spike in AI-driven demand for energy and continued growth in renewable energy supply has led to these skills growing particularly quickly in the Technology, Information and Media and Utilities sectors.
Commenting on the data, LinkedIn Ireland Country Manager Cara O’Leary said: “Internationally and in Ireland, we are seeing a trend where more workers are opting to stay in their current roles rather than actively seeking new opportunities. This is down to a more competitive jobs market as companies advertise fewer roles. This is coming through in our data where we have observed a decline in job search intensity, which fell by nearly 4% year-on-year in October. “At the same time, Ireland continues to stand out as a leader in flexible work, with hybrid roles now accounting for more than one-third of all job postings. Remote opportunities also remain highly sought after, with Irish workers applying to them at even higher rates than the European average. Flexibility continues to be a key differentiator for companies seeking to attract and retain the best talent.
“Internationally and in Ireland, we’re also seeing real momentum around green skills, with talent in this space being hired at rates well above the global average. As demand for sustainability and energy-related expertise accelerates, Irish professionals who invest in these skills will be exceptionally well positioned for the future.”