Published this week, the Q2 2025 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey identifies key forces shaping the future of work.
What Is The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey?
Each quarter, the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey assesses businesses’ hiring plans for the upcoming quarter, evaluating whether they intend to expand or reduce their workforce.
As one of the most comprehensive and long-standing forward-looking surveys of its kind, it provides valuable insight into global employment trends. Since its inception more than 5 decades ago, the survey has become a highly regarded and reliable indicator of labor market dynamics.
For this latest survey edition, ManpowerGroup surveyed close to 40 thousand employers in 41 countries to ask them about their second quarter hiring intentions and the reasoning behind their decisions.
source: Q2 2025 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey
How Many Employers Plan To Hire
The survey results are largely positive from the perspective of growth and employment opportunities for 2025 globally.
- 40% of employers anticipate an increase in hiring
- 15% anticipate a decrease
- 42% report no change
- 3% remain unsure
What Sectors Have The Highest Demand?
source: Q2 2025 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey
More than 20% of the employers surveyed globally also stated that they would need more tech expertise to keep up with advancements in IT.
In Ireland, 26% of employers “report intentions to increase hiring to meet the demands of tech advancements”. Most of whom plan to begin their hiring in April and June this year.
source: Q2 2025 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey
Ireland’s Employment Outlook
According to the Q2 2025 ManpowerGroup Survey IT and Employment Trends in Ireland look good.
- Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Ireland stands at 25%, aligning with the global average.
- This represents a 5 percentage point improvement compared to Q2 2024, indicating positive hiring momentum.
- Ireland ranks mid-tier globally but is among the stronger employment markets in Europe and the Middle East, where the regional NEO is 20%.
IT Sector Outlook (Global Trends)
The IT sector continues to be the strongest hiring industry globally, maintaining a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 35%. Although the outlook has slightly declined by two points compared to Q1 2025, it remains stable year-over-year. Hiring in IT is largely driven by technological advancements, with 24% of employers worldwide citing the need for new expertise in tech roles as a key factor fueling demand.
Factors Driving Hiring in Ireland
In Ireland, hiring is primarily driven by company expansion, with 38% of companies globally citing growth as the main factor. Technological advancements also play a significant role, particularly in APAC but with relevance to Ireland as well. Additionally, the need for new skills to keep pace with digital transformation remains a key driver of hiring decisions.
Challenges to Employment Growth
Economic uncertainty is the leading factor behind potential workforce reductions, affecting 35% of employers globally. Additionally, automation and market shifts are contributing to job reductions in certain sectors.
Comparison to Other Countries
Ireland’s 25% NEO aligns with Switzerland, Austria, and Poland, exceeding France (18%) and Portugal (15%) but falling behind the UK (31%).
What Does This Mean For IT Professionals In Ireland?
IT professionals in Ireland should feel optimistic about the survey results. The IT sector remains the strongest hiring industry globally, with continued demand for tech expertise driving job opportunities.
While economic uncertainty poses some risks, Ireland’s Net Employment Outlook (25%) shows positive hiring momentum, and the country ranks among the stronger employment markets in Europe. Overall, IT professionals can expect a competitive job market with solid opportunities for career growth.