Three in four workers in Ireland dream of changing careers – but most don’t know where to start

Three in four workers in Ireland could imagine moving into a different career field, but many do not know how to make the leap, according to new research from Indeed.

The research, released as Indeed launches Career Scout in Ireland, reveals that while 76% of workers are open to changing careers, many are being held back by financial uncertainty (31%), age (27%), starting again as a beginner (23%), a lack of qualifications (23%) and uncertainty about which jobs would suit them (23%).

More than six in ten (61%) say they have transferable skills but are unsure where those skills are most relevant, while half (50%) wish they knew what jobs they qualify for based on their skills and experience.

Career confidence gap

The findings suggest that many workers in Ireland are eager to explore new opportunities but often lack the confidence and guidance needed to take the next step.

More than eight in ten (82%) say they would find a tool helpful if it showed possible career paths based on their experience and skills, including 31% who would find it very helpful. Meanwhile, 71% wish they could ask questions about a company or role before applying and 54% say they have struggled to explain why they are a good fit for a role during an application or interview.

The research also highlights the scale of career ambition among workers. Six in ten (61%) say they have a dream career they would love to achieve, while nearly nine in ten (88%) could imagine moving into a field where workers will be needed in the long term.

At the same time, workers are navigating growing uncertainty about the future. Economic uncertainty is the leading concern for workers when thinking about their professional future (34%), followed closely by AI and automation (32%).

A personal career coach

To help jobseekers take the next step with greater confidence, Indeed is launching Career Scout in Ireland. Designed as a personal career coach, Career Scout makes it easier to discover career opportunities, find relevant jobs and navigate every stage of the job search process.

With Career Scout, jobseekers can:

• Discover personalised pathways aligned to their skills and interests, including career opportunities they may not have considered before.
• Understand why they may be well suited for recommended careers and find out what they could earn in a new career.
• Simplify their job search by chatting with Career Scout to find better opportunities tailored to their goals, refine searches and uncover jobs specific to their interests.
• Research companies before applying, including pay, culture, size and employee sentiment.
• Keep track of applications in one organised hub through the My Jobs dashboard.
• Strengthen interview and negotiation skills with personalised guidance, role-specific interview tips and practical talking points.

Based on initial US testing, jobseekers who use Career Scout find and apply to relevant jobs seven times faster, and are 38% more likely to get hired[2].

Conor McCarthy, Vice President at Indeed, said: “Changing careers can feel daunting, especially in a rapidly changing work environment. People know they have valuable skills but cannot see how they translate into new opportunities in today’s workplace. Our research shows that many jobseekers are open to change, but they need more clarity, confidence and personalised support to take the next step.

“Career Scout is designed to act as a personal career coach, helping people understand their options, discover roles that match their skills and goals, and move through the job search with more confidence.”

Growing demand for personalised career support

The findings also show that AI is already becoming an increasingly important job search tool for workers in Ireland. More than a third (37%) have already used AI to support a job search.

Among those who have used AI, 42% say it made them feel more confident submitting applications, 41% say it saved them time and 30% report receiving more interview invitations. However, some concerns remain. One-third (33%) worry employers can tell they used AI, while 28% worry AI-generated applications may sound generic.

Career coaching also remains largely untapped. Only 21% have ever used a career coach, with the biggest barriers including never having considered using one (39%), concerns about cost (28%), uncertainty about what a career coach does (25%)and not knowing where to find one (24%).

Career Scout aims to bring more personalised career support to more people, combining Indeed’s two decades of data and insights with AI-powered guidance to help jobseekers apply smarter, not just faster.

McCarthy continued: “For many people, career support has either felt out of reach or too generic to be useful. Career Scout helps bridge that gap by giving jobseekers tailored guidance whenever they need it – whether they are exploring a new path, preparing for an interview or trying to understand what they could earn in a new role.”

Career Scout is now available to jobseekers in Ireland, offering personalised support to help people explore new career paths, understand where their skills fit, and move through the job search with greater confidence.

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