AI and ESG changing hiring practices in Irish firms

Sustainability Manager roles now attract salaries up to €95,000 in Dublin and €75,000 regionally.

AI adoption by Irish companies has progressed rapidly beyond pilot projects and is now firmly embedded in critical processes, particularly across engineering, manufacturing, finance, quality assurance, and supply chain functions.

A new report from Matrix Recruitment shows companies entering 2026 building more future-ready workforce strategies, focused on digital capability, adaptability and compliance. Publishing its Salary Guide for 2026, Matrix said salaries across most sectors are expected to remain broadly in line with 2025 levels, while in-demand roles are expected to see a salary increase of between 3% and 6%.

Sectors experiencing acute skills shortages, most notably Engineering, Sustainability and Environmental, will see the strongest growth in salaries, with increases of approximately 8% and 10% expected. However, the report notes that the labour market is being reshaped by technological transformation.

“AI is reshaping how companies organise, plan and make decisions,” Breda Dooley, Head of Recruitment, said. “This is prompting organisations to build more future-ready workforce strategies, with a strong focus on digital capability, adaptability and compliance.”

Changing employee expectations are also influencing hiring and retention strategies. The report notes that professionals are increasingly prioritising roles that offer purpose, development opportunities and meaningful impact, while employers are making more deliberate hiring decisions centred on operational resilience, leadership depth and long-term capability building.

As companies prepare for stricter ESG reporting rules, demand for sustainability and environmental roles continues to grow. Jobs linked to emissions tracking, environmental management and long-term sustainability planning are expected to see the biggest salary increases, particularly at mid to senior level. 

Sustainability Manager roles now attract salaries up to €95,000 in Dublin and €75,000 regionally, the report notes with Environmental Consultant roles attracting salaries of €75,000 to €60,000 respectively.

The salary guide notes that engineering will continue to be one of Ireland’s most competitive hiring markets. Ongoing investment across pharma, medtech, food manufacturing, infrastructure and energy projects, alongside the widespread adoption of AI and automation, is sustaining strong demand for process, automation, maintenance and project engineers.

In accountancy and financial services, ongoing skills shortages and regulatory complexity continue to push salary levels higher, particularly for experienced and leadership roles.

Manufacturing continues to benefit from investment in advanced engineering and AI automation, while competition remains strong for mid-career talent in maintenance and production leadership roles. In Quality & Laboratory, Ireland’s position as a global biopharma hub is sustaining demand for QA, validation and analytical professionals, with skills shortages persisting at mid-senior levels.

In the supply chain sector, employers are increasingly focused on resilience, forecasting accuracy and digital optimisation. AI-driven planning and analytics are reshaping roles across the sector, with procurement specialists, logistics analysts and supply planners in hot demand.