Ireland’s labour market is demonstrating robust health and significant growth, with employment reaching a new record high in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures.
The data reveals that 30,700 new jobs were created in the year to Q3 2025, pushing total employment to a landmark 2.82 million. This represents a solid 1.1% year-on-year increase, underscoring a sustained period of economic expansion and business confidence.
Key Trends for Employers and Job Seekers
The CSO’s Labour Force Survey highlights several key trends that define the current employment landscape:
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A Nationwide Boom: Growth is not confined to the capital. In a significant shift, employment outside of Dublin saw a strong increase of 23,700 jobs (+1.2%), indicating a more balanced and regionally distributed economic recovery.
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The Rise of Full-Time Work: The quality of employment is improving, with full-time positions driving the growth. Full-time employment surged by 34,800 (+1.6%) year-on-year, while part-time roles saw a slight decrease of 4,100. This suggests businesses are investing in long-term, stable staffing.
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Tightening Labour Market: The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.0% in October 2025, down from 5.1% the previous month. This continued decline signals a increasingly competitive environment for talent acquisition.