Latest news with #IrishJobs
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Nearly 70% of job applications rejected due to lack of relevant skills, survey shows
Two in three job applications are rejected due to a lack of relevant skills, which is leading to slower and more resource-intensive hiring for employers, according to a new survey. The IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey gathered insights from 553 recruiters and 738 jobseekers in Ireland to identify changing attitudes and actions on hiring processes in a fast-evolving labour market. Advertisement Findings from the survey show that 68 per cent of job applications are rejected due to a lack of relevant skills which is impacting the speed and quality of recruitment. As a result, 78 per cent of employers are not satisfied with the quality of job applications received for open positions, indicating a growing disconnect between what employers are looking for and where jobs candidates can deliver, IrishJobs said. This dissatisfaction results in just 25 per cent of candidates progressing to the interview stage, with manual screening slowing decisions and making it easier to miss strong candidates. This finding is a sign of the growing gap between the talent needs of employers and the relevant capabilities provided by candidates. A lack of relevant skills is the main reason applications are rejected. This is followed by a lack of relevant experience and unexplained employment gaps. Advertisement Beyond skills and experience – presentation also plays a role in whether candidates make it through the recruitment process. More than one in five (21 per cent) job candidates are rejected due to poorly formatted applications. In response, a growing number of jobseekers are turning to AI to improve their applications. Findings from the research show that 35 per cent of candidates are now using AI to optimise the formatting and language quality of their documents. With AI tools being used by more job candidates to generate content including CVs and cover letters, employers should consider evolving their hiring processes to ensure more holistic candidate evaluation. Advertisement Job advert disconnect 77 per cent of jobseekers believe the expectations and responsibilities of open roles were not clearly outlined in adverts during their last job search, according to the survey findings. This uncertainty can have a significant impact on the success of recruitment. One in five (20 per cent) of jobseekers will decline a job offer after an interview if expectations differ significantly from those originally advertised. Candidates are also deterred by missing information. Half of candidates (50 per cent) say the absence of a salary range makes them less likely to apply. Nearly as many (44 per cent) are put off by unclear job titles, while a third (33 per cent) report that vague descriptions of job benefits also impacts their decision. Developing clearer and more detailed job ads is one of the steps employers can take to address these challenges and enhance the quality of applications. Advertisement With 74 per cent of recruiters saying that improved job descriptions lead to better applications, it is clear that greater clarity (on everything from salary and benefits to responsibilities and expectations) can help bridge the gap between candidates and employers and streamline the recruitment process. Ireland Half of Irish adults say their DIY skills are 'wel... Read More Commenting on the findings, country director of The Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs, Sam Dooley, said: 'Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, we can expect a slower pace of employment growth in Ireland over the coming months. "Despite this evolving environment, the rate of unemployment in Ireland remains close to historic lows, with many employers still struggling to navigate a highly competitive market for talent and attract the high calibre talent needed to unlock future growth. "It's clear from the findings of the IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey that the quality of job applications received by employers in Ireland is having a direct impact on recruitment. "A high volume of applications from candidates without the relevant skills for roles is creating challenges for many employers, resulting in a slower pace of hiring and the need for additional resources to manage the hiring process."
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
More than two-thirds of job applications rejected due to lack of relevant skills
More than two-thirds of job applications are rejected due to a lack of relevant skills, according to new research from hiring platform IrishJobs. The Recruiter & Jobseeker Survey gathered insights from 553 recruiters and 738 jobseekers in Ireland to identify changing attitudes and actions on hiring processes. The study showed that 78% of employers are not satisfied with the quality of job applications received for open positions, while more than one in five job candidates are rejected due to poorly formatted applications. More than three quarters of jobseekers said role expectations were not clearly outlined in job adverts. The research shows that a growing number of jobseekers are turning to AI to improve their applications. According to the survey, 35% of candidates are now using AI to optimise the formatting and language quality of their applications, CVs and cover letters. "Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, we can expect a slower pace of employment growth in Ireland over the coming months," said Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs. "Despite this evolving environment, the rate of unemployment in Ireland remains close to historic lows, with many employers still struggling to navigate a highly competitive market for talent and attract the high calibre talent needed to unlock future growth," he said. "It's clear from the findings of the IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey that the quality of job applications received by employers in Ireland is having a direct impact on recruitment," Mr Dooley said. "A high volume of applications from candidates without the relevant skills for roles is creating challenges for many employers, resulting in a slower pace of hiring and the need for additional resources to manage the hiring process," he added.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Lack of skills, badly formatted applications: survey reveals why job candidates are rejected
More than two-thirds of job applications are rejected by employers because they lack the relevant skills for the role, new research has found, with others binned because applications are badly formatted or due to unexplained gaps in employment. The survey, which was carried out for hiring platform IrishJobs, found that 78 per cent of employers are dissatisfied with the quality of job applications received, making it slower and more resource-intensive for employers. Meanwhile, 77 per cent of jobseekers say job adverts do not clearly outline expectations for roles. The IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey spoke to 553 recruiters and 738 jobseekers in Ireland. READ MORE It found only 25 per cent of candidates make it to the interview stage, with the risk of strong candidates being missed due to the manual screening process. 'Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, we can expect a slower pace of employment growth in Ireland over the coming months. Despite this evolving environment, the rate of unemployment in Ireland remains close to historic lows, with many employers still struggling to navigate a highly competitive market for talent and attract the high-calibre talent needed to unlock future growth,' said Sam Dooley, country director of the Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs. 'It's clear from the findings of the IrishJobs Recruiter & Jobseeker survey that the quality of job applications received by employers in Ireland is having a direct impact on recruitment. A high volume of applications from candidates without the relevant skills for roles is creating challenges for many employers, resulting in a slower pace of hiring and the need for additional resources to manage the hiring process.' [ How AI is generating a 'sea of sameness' in job applications Opens in new window ] From a jobseeker perspective, their last jobs search revealed a lack of certainty from adverts, with expectations and responsibilities of open roles not clearly outlined. Twenty per cent said they would decline a job offer after an interview if expectations differed significantly. Half of candidates said they were less likely to apply for jobs that failed to include a salary range, while 44 per cent were deterred by unclear job titles. A rising number of jobseekers are using AI to improve their applications, with 35 per cent using it to polish the formatting and language quality of their documents. That means employers should adjust their hiring processes to ensure a more holistic approach. 'Developing clearer and more detailed job advertisements is one of the steps employers should consider in addressing these challenges and enhancing the quality of job applications,' said Mr Dooley. 'From salary and benefits to flexible working arrangements, jobseeker expectations are evolving at pace and leading to a growing disconnect between employers and candidates. Addressing these shifting preferences and providing a clear breakdown around the requirements and responsibilities of open roles can help to enhance the efficiency of the recruitment process and support employers to better secure the high-calibre talent that meets their future needs.'
RTÉ News
25-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Cautious approach to hiring in pharma and tech amid tariff fears
New research from hiring platform IrishJobs has revealed a cautious approach to hiring among firms in the science and IT sectors ahead of the US tariffs announcement. The Jobs Index for the first quarter of the year showed there was no change in quarterly job vacancies in both of these sectors which IrishJobs said indicated that companies were adopting a "wait and see" approach to hiring. The science sector is composed of a wide range of pharmaceutical and life sciences multinationals which are exposed to potential sector specific trade tariffs. The cautious hiring sentiment was also evident in the tech sector, which could be impacted by retaliatory measures levied by the EU on digital service providers. Consumer-driven sectors associated with the domestic economy, which are less directly impacted by the global trading environment experienced quarterly vacancy growth. These included retail, sport and fitness, and sales. The catering sector, which includes jobs in hospitality, accounted for the largest number of vacancies in the first three months of the year. The total number of quarterly job vacancies increased by 5% which IrishJobs said reflected the continued strength of the Irish economy and labour market. According to the index, the proportion of hybrid working vacancies as a share of total vacancies has increased to 11% over the past three months. In contrast, the share of fully remote vacancies as a proportion of overall vacancies remains relatively low at 2.4%. While there was a slight increase in the share of fully remote job vacancies in the first quarter of the year, their availability remains down 80.6% from the peak recorded in 2021. "As elevated economic uncertainty becomes the new normal, we may see moderating levels of hiring across certain sectors in the coming months," said Sam Dooley, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland with responsibility for IrishJobs. "These conditions could offer some respite to employers navigating an exceptionally competitive market for talent and provide a window of opportunity for employers to better meet their talent needs over the coming months," Mr Dooley said.
Irish Independent
25-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Science and IT sectors'cautious' about hiring amidst trade threats despite a rise in jobs
According to hiring website IrishJobs's Jobs Index released today, vacancies have gone up by 5pc but the 'cracks are beginning to show' as a result of the US's tariff threats. The IT and Science sector which includes multinational businesses in Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences, that are likely to be most exposed to the tariffs, showed a more cautious hiring sentiment. The report found that the sectors adopted a 'wait and see' approach to hiring: 'The uncertainty created by this shifting trading environment is already starting to impact hiring sentiment in some internationally traded sectors.' Julius Probst, European Labour Market Economist at IrishJobs and investment firm Stepstone Group said cracks were beginning to show in the labour market. 'The Irish labour market continues to perform well, with an exceptionally low unemployment rate of 4pc paired with employment gains of about 70,000 throughout 2024,' he said 'However, beneath the surface some cracks are starting to appear. As a small and open economy, Ireland is particularly exposed to global economic conditions. While interest rates are finally coming down, this is mostly due to weak demand in the Eurozone. 'As global economic uncertainty is reaching a record-high due to the US trade war, international companies are becoming more cautious in their hiring approach.' The report found 'close to record low levels of unemployment and moderate domestic growth' with more consumer-driven sectors in the domestic economy like retail, sport and fitness, and sales had seen significant growth. The construction sector (5pc) accounted for marginally more vacancies than the IT sector (4.9pc) during the quarter. The highest number of vacancies were seen in the catering sector (11pc), followed by health and sales. The period also saw hybrid jobs increase to 11pc out of all vacancies even as major companies push for staff to return to the office. However, Fully remote jobs only saw a slight increase – their availability remained down 80.6pc from the Covid-related peak recorded in 2021. Large Irish cities saw a larger flux of job vacancies with Galway (22pc) and Waterford (13pc) standing at the top, followed by Dublin (3pc). Staff nurses, production operators and engineers, and customer and sales assistants were some of the most in-demand roles over the quarter in Galway, while Waterford saw the hiring of more engineers and technicians.
