Software Engineer Tops the List for Graduate Jobs in Ireland According To LinkedIn

New data published today by LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has revealed that the role of software engineer is the top job for new graduates in Ireland, showing the strong demand for highly-skilled workers across the tech industry. This reflects a broader trend, with previous LinkedIn research revealing that demand for software engineers in Ireland outstrips supply, with a steady flow of talent coming into the country from places such as India, the UK, Brazil, Turkey and the Netherlands.

The top three jobs for graduates are completed by audit associate in second place and quality control analyst in third spot. Accounting professionals remain highly in-demand with a raft of firms across the industry including the Big Four –  KPMG, PwC, EY and Deloitte – hiring for these roles.

The influence of Pharma, another of Ireland’s big employers, can be seen in the rankings in the form of third-placed quality control analyst. Over the past 50 years, Ireland has become the EU’s largest exporter of pharmaceuticals. The sector’s impact on the Irish economy is also evident in the recent LinkedIn Top Companies Ireland list – 13 of the 25 featured are pharmaceutical companies, including BioMarin Pharmaceutical and AstraZeneca in the top two spots.

Two-tier access to flexible work opportunities

Another key highlight from LinkedIn’s data highlights a two-tier system for the availability of flexible working for graduates compared to established professionals. Just over a quarter (26.7%) of entry-level job postings at the start of the year had hybrid/remote availability, but that contrasts to almost half (47.5%) for mid-senior level jobs. Some positions offer more flexibility for new grads, with software engineer (64.8%) coming out on top again with the most remote availability for hybrid or remote opportunities.

Commenting on the data, Sue Duke, LinkedIn Ireland Country Manager, said: “Demand for highly-skilled software engineers in Ireland is sky high, and graduates with these specialist skills are experiencing a hiring boom. Our data and the IDA’s recent Labour Market Pulse underscore the need to continue to cultivate a pipeline of tech talent to meet industry needs, accelerated by the growth of Generative AI.

“Our analysis also shows a high level of competition among employers for these professionals, with greater work flexibility for entry-level software engineers compared to their graduate peers – where we see an overall trend towards significantly lower hybrid and remote work flexibility for entry-level jobs. This often reflects employers’ desire to bolster their workplace culture and ensure that junior staff develop strong relationships with more senior colleagues, but it also poses the question about how companies should support the next generation of professionals in balancing work and life from the outset of their careers.”

Learning Opportunities

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