Four in 10 businesses lost staff in past six months while recruitment 'challenging'

Excel founder and CEO Barry Whelan. Mr Whelan said businesses are currently 'fishing in a very small talent pool'. 

Four in 10 Irish businesses have lost staff in the past six months, while recruitment remains a challenge, the results of a new salary guide released on Tuesday shows.

The research found ongoing shortages reported in sectors including hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial and warehousing. More than one-third of employers (36%) are now relying on temporary or short-term staffing solutions to fill critical gaps. Some 67% of businesses had problems recruiting staff in 2025, while 41% said they had lost staff over the past six months.