Graduate recruitment trends

The most popular roles among students were those relating to engineering. Roles relating to data, design, research and healthcare were also very popular. When asked about what support they expected from employers, training, mentorship and relocation support were the most popular answers. The results of the survey also indicate that student value having a good work-life balance, career progression and interesting work highly while they give relatively little value to job prestige.

Trends in recruitment

The graduate employment landscape

While graduate hiring was slower this year than last year, the labour market is still performing strongly. The unemployment rate currently stands at 4.3% and might drop further according to the Economic and Social Research Institute. Our recent research showed employers are struggling to find the right talent, especially in sectors such as accounting, finance and engineering. There is also a high demand for talent within healthcare and construction.

Technology and Ai in recruitment

With Chat GPT bursting onto the scene in late 2022, AI, and how it will shape thefuture, has been on everyone’s mind. Technology and AI have been influencing recruitment for longer than we might think, with applications such as resume scanning, screening software and video interviews already widely used.

While advancements in technology will continue to shape the recruitment landscape, change takes time and the automation of tasks within recruitment won’t happen overnight. Even as new technology develops, early adopters will be few with many opting for more tried and tested options and others simply not having the budget.

Soft skills

While technical skills are very important in finding a job, for many roles, a greater level of importance is being given to soft skills during the recruitment process. Skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity and time-management are key to success in the workplace. Recruiters are giving more importance to such skills, giving graduates who are able to demonstrate them a distinct advantage.

When applying for jobs, think about the skills you have gained from previous work, volunteer activities or life experiences.

The future of remote work

The future of remote work

Since the sudden move to working remotely in 2020, hybrid work has become part of the working landscape for many, but not all, sectors. In some sectors, there has been a drive from employers to return to the office, while others have embraced a hybrid model that seems set to stay for the foreseeable future.

Whether or not the hybrid model will apply to you is something to consider for graduates who live outside of cities and will have to face lengthy commutes or paying very high rents closer to their workplace. Ireland has one of the highest levels of availability of remote and hybrid jobs in Europe. However, the number of jobs that allow for hybrid or remote work varies by industry.

According to a 2023 study by The European Central Bank, the majority of people would like to work from home at least one day a week. Changes in work from home patterns are bound to be impacted by and impact the economy and labour markets. This makes the future of remote and hybrid work hard to predict, but it will remain part of work culture for many roles.