Two-in-five workers in Ireland are looking for a new job

• SD Worx research finds 22% of Irish employees say their talents are not fully utilised
• Some 44% do not receive any training or learning opportunities
• 29% say that AI will make their work more meaningful
• Nearly half (47%) say their teams are understaffed
• Irish employers cite employee retention (24%), employee wellbeing (23%), and skills gaps (23%) among top challenges for 2026

SD Worx Ireland, a leading payroll and HR solutions provider, today announces the results of new research which found that 39% of employees in Ireland are currently looking for a new job. 

Independent research from SD Worx, carried out by iVOX, surveyed 1,000 employees and 301 employers in Ireland on their attitudes and approaches to skills and development in the workplace. Highlighting a lack of emphasis by employers on employees’ development needs, it found that 22% of employees believe their talents are not being fully utilised at work, while 44% do not receive any training or learning opportunities.

While many workers say they are not being afforded sufficient growth opportunities, it is not for a lack of interest. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say they are eager to learn and grow at work. Many believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will help, with 29% saying that it will make their work more meaningful. Already, some 31% say that AI has improved their ability to perform their job effectively. Additionally, 55% say they receive regular feedback from their employer that helps them to improve their performance.

The research also suggests that employee time isn’t being well-spent and that valuable working hours are being lost due to poor planning, limited workload visibility, and inefficient allocation of time. When it comes to managing daily workloads, nearly half (47%) say their teams are understaffed, and 28% admit that too much of their working time is spent in meetings. The findings point to a growing disconnect between how work is planned, resourced, and measured, and the true employee experience.

As employees seek new opportunities, Irish employers cite employee retention and turnover (24%), employee wellbeing (23%), and skill gaps, upskilling, and reskilling (23%) among their top workforce challenges for 2026. It seems that employers are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate changing skills requirements in a rapidly evolving business landscape, and more than one-in-10 (13%) do not know which skills their organisation will need in the next two to three years. 

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of employers are shifting the focus from job titles to skills and capabilities when it comes to planning of their workforces. Half are investing in reskilling and upskilling employees to prepare for the AI-driven workplace. 

Eimear added, "Our research suggests that many employers may not know what they should be training their employees in. Now is the time to examine the skills that are already in place within the business to assess where the gaps are and understand what’s needed to continue to propel the business forward. With the right workforce management strategy, organisations can create transparency around time, capacity, and skills, allowing them to better plan resources and support employee wellbeing. When it comes to AI, it’s all about adapting and evolving. Roles and skills requirements will change but they will not disappear completely – human oversight will and should remain vital. An engaged workforce which can provide the in-demand skills that are needed by organisations will be key to remaining competitive.”

The research was carried out by iVOX on behalf of SD Worx between January and February 2026 across 1,000 employees and 301 employers in the Republic of Ireland. The survey was conducted in 16 European countries: Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. A total of 5,936 employers and 16,500 employees were surveyed.