The Morgan McKinley Irish Employment Monitor held relatively steady from July to August, with only a slight dip (2%) recorded in the number of new professional job opportunities. 

This represented a 1% increase when compared to the same time last year. According to the Monitor, there were 7,828 job opportunities in August compared with 7,953 in July.

This is a less significant change compared with recent months when the Monitor swung alternately up and down.

There was a decrease of 2% in the number of professional jobseekers entering the market from 11,365 in July to 11,120 in August, and there was also saw a 2% decrease in the number of professionals entering the jobs market month-on-month.

Karen O’Flaherty, chief operations officer, Morgan McKinley, says: “The dips in job availability and professional jobseeker numbers are expected, and indicative of the summer period. August is traditionally a more subdued month for the Irish professional jobs market, as many hiring managers and jobseekers take time off. 

“Professionals in demand continue to be those with IT development skills; part-qualified and qualified accountants with a second European language, internal auditors and procurement managers. 

“Graduate hiring experienced growth particularly within the financial services and banking sectors this month, which reflects historical seasonal trends for this time of year when ‘fresh’ graduates enter the hiring market. 

“Larger companies have begun to hire internal recruitment teams – a positive indicator for future hiring plans. Last month’s announcement from the [stockbrokers] NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index indicated marginal expansion in Ireland’s manufacturing sector which when compared to other EU countries is an encouraging sign for the economy, as an upswing in manufacturing activity often suggests a shift in both business and consumer confidence.”