Top 10 salary increases in Ireland for the year ahead 

The Irish economy is in a strong place, with a high employment rate and multiple job opportunities for Irish professionals. However, cost burdens are still being felt – although cost-of-living pressures have eased compared to last year, there are renewed concerns about rising business costs and how these will impact organisations, despite the robust economic outlook. 

Meanwhile, skills shortages have shown no signs of abating. Our research of 1,150 professionals across Ireland, outlined in our 2025 Hays Ireland Salary & Recruiting Trends guide, shows that more than 9 out of 10 employers have faced the challenge of skills gaps in the last 12 months, a figure that remains steady year-on-year. 

As a result, pay remains a key reason for employees to move jobs, and organisations are increasing salaries as they seek to attract and retain professionals with the skills they need in 2025 and beyond. 

Our research answers some crucial questions:

• Which roles in Ireland have seen the most significant pay rises?
• What’s driving salary increases?
• What’s the outlook for employee movement in 2025?

Which sectors are seeing above-average pay rises?

Salaries across the professions in our 2025 guide increased by an average of 1.9% over the last 12 months. The top salary growth sectors in Ireland include insurance (2.9% increase), construction and property (2.3% increase), business support (2.1% increase), accountancy and finance (1.7% increase) and technology (1.3% increase). 

While the list below does not necessarily reflect the highest paid jobs in the current market, it does outline some of the roles seeing the most growth potential in the future. 
 

In the year ahead, around three quarters (76%) of employers expect to increase the pay of their workforce. Looking to revamp your remuneration offering? Salary benchmarking is an important practice for organisations to undertake when designing fair and competitive pay policies.  

Lack of career progression also causing employees to move jobs

Salaries aren’t the only factor influencing employee movement in 2025. The top reasons for employees to be dissatisfied in their current role are because of a lack of career development opportunities (50%) and a lack of career progression (48%).

Our research shows there has been a notable rise in the proportion of employees who do not feel they’re able to progress their career in their current job, increasing from 27% to 42%. This is in stark contrast to employers, 81% of whom believe there is scope for the career progression of their staff. 

Failure to properly communicate the career opportunities available to existing staff and outline clear career progression pathways runs the risk of employees choosing to move on in the year ahead. This is evident in our research, where 61% of professionals told us they plan to move jobs in 2025, an increase from 52% who said the same last year. 

Professionals who are considering changing jobs in the next year will be doing so in a healthy jobs market – 86% of employers say they plan to hire staff in 2025. Keeping an eye on the latest vacancies in your area and ensuring your CV is regularly kept up to date will make you well-positioned to land your next role. 

Discover the latest salary and employment trends in our Hays Salary & Recruiting Trends guide.