Three Quarters of Irish Recruiters Struggle to Find Qualified Talent as Skills Gaps Persist

New data from research with 500 HR professionals surveyed in Ireland, published by LinkedIn, has revealed that three-quarters (75%) of Irish recruiters faced challenges finding qualified talent in the past year. The primary barrier identified by the research was finding candidates with the right technical skills, flagged by over half (52%) of HR professionals.
Mixed Signals in the Irish Jobs Market

Despite ongoing challenges, optimism in the job market remains, with two-thirds (66%) of recruiters planning to hire more in 2025 compared to last year. However, this increased hiring demand comes with its own hurdles. The vast majority (70%) of HR professionals report spending more time proactively sourcing candidates due to a lack of qualified applicants, with only 40% of applications, on average, meeting all preferred qualifications.

In addition to the challenge, just under three-quarters (73%) of recruiters believe that many Irish professionals are leaving full-time education without the essential soft skills they need in the modern workplace.
Building Talent From Within

In response to these challenges, almost four in five (76%) of Irish HR professionals stated that helping employees to upskill would be a top priority for their organisation in 2025. The majority (71%) of talent acquisition teams also believe that their role has evolved, having taken on a broader range of strategic responsibilities like internal mobility and learning and development.

AI is Changing How Irish Employers Hire

The world of work is being rapidly reshaped by AI, with the skills needed for jobs predicted to change by 70% by 2030. It comes as no surprise that upskilling employees on AI is a key focus for many HR professionals this year. Just over two-thirds (68%) of HR professionals in Ireland have identified upskilling on AI as a key priority. AI-powered tools are also making an impact on hiring processes. Just over seven in ten (71%) recruiters say use of AI in the hiring process has helped them to find candidates faster, while 68% report reduced hiring costs due to increased efficiency.

The Ghosting Paradox

The research also uncovered a disconnect in candidate experience. Nearly half (49%) of all Irish professionals surveyed have experienced not hearing back from a company after applying for a position. At the same time, 7 in 10 (72%) recruiters admitted that they were unable to individually respond to every application due to the volume of applicants.

This communication gap risks damaging employer reputation, with 69% of HR professionals acknowledging that failing to respond could harm their company’s image. More than three-quarters (76%) flagged the need for additional tools and resources to improve candidate communication.

Commenting on the insights, LinkedIn Head of Ireland, Sue Duke, said: “The tight labour market in Ireland continues to present challenges for employers, especially when it comes to finding candidates with the right skills. However, we’re seeing a positive shift with companies focusing on upskilling their teams as a solution to close these gaps.

AI is rapidly transforming the workplace, and with it comes both challenges and opportunities. At LinkedIn, we’re committed to supporting both businesses and professionals in this shift, with free LinkedIn Learning courses available to help HR teams and jobseekers stay ahead of workplace changes.”

To support this focus on skills development, LinkedIn is offering:

—  Unlocked LinkedIn Learning courses – LinkedIn will be opening up a number of online learning courses for free to help HR teams upskill on AI, and to help job seekers find their next opportunity.
—  AI-powered coaching within LinkedIn Learning – LinkedIn introduced a new AI-powered coaching feature within LinkedIn Learning Hub that helps learners practise interpersonal skills through interactive scenarios using voice or text. Learners can practise delivering performance reviews, having conversations on work-life balance, and giving feedback.

Free LinkedIn Learning courses