Growth in the number of new professional jobs was stable in June, according to the latest Morgan McKinley Irish Employment Monitor.

The Monitor reveals the number of new professional job opportunities in the Irish market did not change significantly from May 2011 (8,283) to June 2011 (8,250), though job numbers in June was considerably higher (46%) than for the same month last year (5,669).

The Monitor also reveals:

• a 46% increase in new professional jobs from Q2 2010 to Q2 2011
• an 8% month-on-month increase in professionals seeking new jobs in June
• compared to the same time last year, there was a 21% fall in jobseeker numbers

Karen O’Flaherty, chief operations officer, Premier Group Ireland, says: “Although there was no significant fluctuation in the volume of new Irish professional job opportunities from May to June, the hiring market continued to be considerably more buoyant than at the same time last year. In fact, the Morgan McKinley Irish Employment Monitor registered a 46% increase in the number of new professional jobs in Q2 11, compared to Q2 10.

“Export-driven multinational and indigenous companies are still leading the way in terms of hiring activity. The agriculture sector in particular is thriving and is at the core of the country’s economic recovery. Food is among Ireland’s biggest exports. This growth has fuelled demand from agribusinesses and companies that service this sector for professionals, in particular finance and accountancy specialists.

“We would be very supportive of the government expanding educational and skills-based programmes in the field of IT, in line with efforts to position Ireland as the most exciting tech hub outside of Silicon Valley. We are home to some of the world’s largest technology companies, as well as countless start-ups, and as demand for IT professionals inevitably grows, it would be unfortunate to have to source IT talent from outside of Ireland.”