70% of Irish workforce considering job change amid economic challenges
The Prosperity Recruitment Employment & Salary Survey shows shifting employee priorities, external pressures, and the growing role of AI in reshaping Ireland’s job market
Print11 December 2024
According to the 2025 Prosperity Recruitment Employment & Salary Survey, nearly 70% of the workforce in Ireland is considering a job change in the upcoming year.
This significant shift highlights salary stagnation, return to office demands, growing uncertainty and evolving career aspirations among employees amidst a dynamic economic landscape.
The survey reveals that 44% of employees have seen their companies experience a workforce reduction over the past year, potentially contributing to the workforce’s desire for change.
External factors
In parallel, 53% of managers acknowledge that external factors such as geopolitical instability, economic challenges, and technological disruption are influencing their decision-making.
This external pressure is reshaping strategic priorities across industries. As one agency manager notes: “The current state of the economy and consumer confidence is definitely impacting business,” with knock-on effects on client budgets and spending.
Employee sentiment mirrors managerial concerns, with two in three workers reporting increased professional uncertainty.
Factors driving this include layoffs, limited job opportunities, rising living costs, and the disruptive potential of AI technologies.
Jobseekers, especially in the marketing and professional services sectors, are feeling the pressure of a more competitive job market.
A marketer observes, “It’s a more competitive employment market than ever before,” as companies scale back hiring amid slower growth forecasts.
Despite these challenges, the proactive stance of the workforce indicates a strong desire for growth and stability in a rapidly changing market.
“As businesses navigate these turbulent times, understanding employee intentions and external pressures is crucial for strategic planning,” said Gary Mullan, chief executive officer, Prosperity Recruitment.
AI’s growing role
As AI continues to reshape the workplace, the use of tools like ChatGPT has become a key part of daily routines for many employees.
According to the 2025 Prosperity Recruitment Employment & Salary Survey, over 68% of workers now use ChatGPT at least once a week, reflecting a notable 20% increase from last year.
This shift indicates the growing integration of AI tools into everyday tasks, as more businesses adopt these technologies for efficiency and support.
A customer experience manager points out that “AI is a key technological change impacting the CX industry,” while others foresee it reducing reliance on agencies, with one agency marketer stating that clients may bring “creatives in-house” to save costs, potentially undermining performance.
Despite initial concerns that AI would lead to mass job losses, the survey found that 81% of employees now believe their jobs will evolve, rather than be replaced, by AI in the coming years.
“While AI’s potential remains undeniable, the transition appears to be more gradual and manageable than initially anticipated” Mullan continued.
Salary projection
As companies continue to navigate a volatile economic landscape, salary expectations for 2025 are projected to remain flat.
Despite recent interest rate cuts, businesses are adopting a cautious approach to compensation, reflecting ongoing uncertainties in the global economy.
This trend is particularly evident across sectors like full-service agencies, where salaries for non-leadership positions have seen minimal growth.
However, leadership roles, such as head of eCommerce or marketing director, continue to offer competitive packages, with salaries ranging from €85,000 to €150,000.
On the client-side, digital and product roles offer slightly higher compensation, especially for experienced professionals.
Data analytics is also seeing steady growth, with senior roles like head of data analytics exceeding €90,000 for those with five or more years of experience.
Despite these variations, the broader trend indicates that companies are prioritizing stability and caution over aggressive salary hikes.
“We have seen that script before, it’s no question that this period will end but the situation is not easy for some companies, especially SMEs. They need to be cautious for now,” concluded Mullan.
The Prosperity Digital Salary and Employment Survey 2025 is available to download here.
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