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ManpowerGroup Ireland Q1 2025 Employment Outlook Report Now Available

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Irish Life Science Sector Set for Hiring Boom in 2025

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  • Healthcare & Life Sciences sector hiring confidence soars with a Net Employment Outlook of +46%

  • The pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, but the pharma industry indicates plans for a hiring boom going into 2025

  • Information Technology sector reports plans for another strong quarter, with a Net Employment Outlook of +49%

Download the Q1 2025 ManpowerGroup Ireland Employment Outlook Report

​

Ireland’s Healthcare & Life Sciences sector anticipates a boom in hiring appetite going into the New Year, following a period of restructuring to adapt to a post-pandemic healthcare landscape. According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, the sector’s Net Employment Outlook has increased to +46%, up from +23% last quarter. This is the highest hiring level reported since the pandemic.

We’re anticipating the start of a hiring boom across the pharma sector in 2025,” said Jonny Edgar, Managing Director, ManpowerGroup Ireland. “Ireland has become a global hub for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and other life sciences manufacturing, which became a thriving industry throughout the pandemic. However, as consumer needs have changed, the sector took tough decisions to streamline manufacturing and reevaluate product lines, resulting in plant closures and substantial changes to headcounts.

“These restructures, which shifted focus away from pandemic-era manufacturing needs, have put the sector in a position to grow in the New Year. Several major businesses, including many of our multinational pharma clients with manufacturing sites across Ireland, have announced plans to hire at scale. Production operators, project engineers, and development scientists have all seen an uptick in demand.” Edgar continued.

The Healthcare & Life Sciences sector’s confidence is most pronounced in Dublin, home to much of Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry. Here, employers report a Net Employment Outlook of +58%. In more good news for candidates, Information Technology employers in the capital also report a second consecutive quarter of strong hiring confidence (+48%).

Across Ireland, the Information Technology sector reports the strongest hiring appetite of any industry, with a Net Employment Outlook of +49% going into Q1 2025. Meanwhile, the Financials & Real Estate sector has signalled a cooler hiring appetite at +9%, down from +20% last quarter, while the Energy & Utilities sector reports it will be downsizing marginally, with a Net Employment Outlook of -3%.

Big business confidence remains strong, with Large Enterprises – companies with more than 5,000 employees – reporting a Net Employment Outlook of +29%, maintaining the strong hiring appetite seen last quarter, well ahead of the cooler prospects reported across Q2 (+12%) and Q3 (+16%) respectively.

Regionally, Leinster leads the pack with a Net Employment Outlook of +36%, up 24 percentage points on last quarter, followed by Dublin (+25%), Connaught (+25%), and Munster (+23%), with Ulster [Cavan, Donegal, and Monahan] reporting -11%, indicating job losses overall.

“It’s encouraging to see the success story of Ireland’s pharma sector, following the soaring rebound of Ireland’s tech sector earlier in the year. While not all sectors report such optimistic hiring intentions, the positive economic indicators of increasing workforce participation and projected GDP growth, recently revised up from 3.6% to 4% for 2025, should give businesses reason to be upbeat about growth prospects in the New Year.” Edgar explained.

“However, it’s clear that not all organisations are preparing for growth, with our data showing the smallest companies expect a headcount reduction, and the energy sector set for a small contraction. Businesses in these industries should look at their skills needs and focus on upskilling their existing workforce to prepare for economic growth. Staying adaptable and investing in skills will be key to navigating the evolving economic landscape in 2025.” Edgar concluded.

Download the Q1 2025 ManpowerGroup Ireland Employment Outlook Report

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ManpowerGroup Ireland Q1 2025 Employment Outlook Report Now Available

Irish Life Science Sector Set for Hiring Boom in 2025​Healthcare & Life Sciences sector hiring confidence soars with a Net Employment Outlook of +46%The pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, but the pharma industry indicates plans for a hiring boom going into 2025Information Technology sector reports plans for another strong quarter, with a Net Employment Outlook of +49%​ Ireland’s Healthcare & Life Sciences sector anticipates a boom in hiring appetite going into the New Year, following a period of restructuring to adapt to a post-pandemic healthcare landscape. According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, the sector’s Net Employment Outlook has increased to +46%, up from +23% last quarter. This is the highest hiring level reported since the pandemic.We’re anticipating the start of a hiring boom across the pharma sector in 2025,” said Jonny Edgar, Managing Director, ManpowerGroup Ireland. “Ireland has become a global hub for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and other life sciences manufacturing, which became a thriving industry throughout the pandemic. However, as consumer needs have changed, the sector took tough decisions to streamline manufacturing and reevaluate product lines, resulting in plant closures and substantial changes to headcounts.“These restructures, which shifted focus away from pandemic-era manufacturing needs, have put the sector in a position to grow in the New Year. Several major businesses, including many of our multinational pharma clients with manufacturing sites across Ireland, have announced plans to hire at scale. Production operators, project engineers, and development scientists have all seen an uptick in demand.” Edgar continued.The Healthcare & Life Sciences sector’s confidence is most pronounced in Dublin, home to much of Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry. Here, employers report a Net Employment Outlook of +58%. In more good news for candidates, Information Technology employers in the capital also report a second consecutive quarter of strong hiring confidence (+48%). Across Ireland, the Information Technology sector reports the strongest hiring appetite of any industry, with a Net Employment Outlook of +49% going into Q1 2025. Meanwhile, the Financials & Real Estate sector has signalled a cooler hiring appetite at +9%, down from +20% last quarter, while the Energy & Utilities sector reports it will be downsizing marginally, with a Net Employment Outlook of -3%. Big business confidence remains strong, with Large Enterprises – companies with more than 5,000 employees – reporting a Net Employment Outlook of +29%, maintaining the strong hiring appetite seen last quarter, well ahead of the cooler prospects reported across Q2 (+12%) and Q3 (+16%) respectively. Regionally, Leinster leads the pack with a Net Employment Outlook of +36%, up 24 percentage points on last quarter, followed by Dublin (+25%), Connaught (+25%), and Munster (+23%), with Ulster [Cavan, Donegal, and Monahan] reporting -11%, indicating job losses overall. “It’s encouraging to see the success story of Ireland’s pharma sector, following the soaring rebound of Ireland’s tech sector earlier in the year. While not all sectors report such optimistic hiring intentions, the positive economic indicators of increasing workforce participation and projected GDP growth, recently revised up from 3.6% to 4% for 2025, should give businesses reason to be upbeat about growth prospects in the New Year.” Edgar explained.“However, it’s clear that not all organisations are preparing for growth, with our data showing the smallest companies expect a headcount reduction, and the energy sector set for a small contraction. Businesses in these industries should look at their skills needs and focus on upskilling their existing workforce to prepare for economic growth. Staying adaptable and investing in skills will be key to navigating the evolving economic landscape in 2025.” Edgar concluded.

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