First published on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Last updated on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Employment grew in Q2 2025, up 2.3% year-on-year to 2,818,100, an increase of 63,900 jobs, according to the CSO.
For Irish business owners, this should feel like a moment to celebrate, right?
But let’s not get carried away. The numbers look great, but are they telling the whole story? Despite the growth, something could still be holding businesses back, and not everyone may be getting a fair shot at these rising opportunities.
The reality behind the headlines
While these employment figures are making headlines across Ireland, there are some concerning trends that deserve your attention as a business owner.
Childcare access is a rising barrier for working parents
More than 70% of parents in Ireland say that limited access to childcare has negatively impacted their ability to work. On top of this, 9 in 10 businesses say the childcare crisis limited their ability to recruit and retain staff. Think about the talent you might be missing because potential employees simply can’t find affordable, accessible childcare.
Skill shortages haven’t gone away
Despite the employment boom, 83% of employers say they are struggling to find candidates with the skills they need. IT and data skills are the hardest skillsets to find for the fourth in a row. They are followed by operations, logistics, engineering, sustainability, and customer-facing skills.
More and more workers are burning out
Nearly one in four European workers show signs of burnout, highlighting a growing workplace mental health crisis, according to McKinsey. Driven by toxic behaviour, lack of inclusivity, and unsustainable workloads, burnout impacts productivity and retention.
Youth unemployment is rising
Ireland’s record employment of 2.81 million and low 4.0% unemployment mask a growing issue: youth unemployment hit 10.7% in June 2025, up 8.5% year-on-year. With over one in ten young people out of work, employers still struggle to fill roles in key industries, highlighting a critical gap.
All of these issues, if not addressed, will begin to create a growing disconnect between job creation and opportunity access.
How BrightHR can help
These challenges might seem daunting, but they’re exactly the kind of problems you can solve with the right HR software and support. Our comprehensive people management tools help you overcome these hurdles and create the kind of workplace culture that keeps great people:
Skills and growth solutions: We offer CPD-accredited e-learning, performance management, and recruitment tools to develop in-house skills and attract top talent.
Supporting your teams: We provide ways to help make your teams’ lives easier and help them understand their rights with clear expert-written policies, templates, and guides.
24/7 Expert advice: Get round-the-clock access to employment law specialists, to keep you compliant and ensure you’re always confident in your HR decisions.
Employee wellbeing: Our wellness tools (24/7 mental health support, coaching, and access to 2,000+ counsellors) help you build a supportive, healthy, and engaged workforce.
Perks platform: Boost morale and help your team manage their finances better with our employee benefits marketplace.
Employee recognition: Let your people know they’re valued with our employee recognition tools that celebrate achievements and build positive workplace culture.
The bottom line
Ireland’s employment growth is fantastic. But the real opportunity lies in making sure everyone has the same access to these opportunities and that your existing team feels supported through these challenging times. Thriving businesses tackle childcare challenges head-on, invest in skills, and create workplaces where people genuinely want to stay.
Your people are your biggest asset, especially in a competitive job market. The question is, are you giving them the support they need to help your business succeed?
