New job openings ‘to increase by 9% locally’ this year
STAFF of a leading local recruitment firm have forecast that employment opportunities will grow in Limerick by almost 10% this year.
Workers at FRS Recruitment, which is based at Denmark Street in the city centre, says its projection of a 9% jobs growth follows a challenging 2023 when opportunities for new positions declined by 20%.
FRS staff believe that Limerick’s growth will outstrip the 8% rise it predicts nationally.
The firm is anticipating particularly strong demand for accounting, insurance, engineering, science, construction, cybersecurity and social care personnel on a national basis.
It is also expected that upward pressure on salaries in Limerick and the rest of the country will continue over the next 12 months, with the economy at full employment and cost of living challenges still being felt by local employees.
This analysis is included in FRS Recruitment’s 2023 review and 2024 trend forecast report.
During 2023, FRS Recruitment advertised a total of 88,964 opportunities, nationally.
There was also a strong level of response from potential candidates to the openings that came on market, with FRS recording a 32% rise in the average number of applications.
Speaking about the report and the outlook for the year ahead, Lynne McCormack, general manager with FRS said: “If 2023 was a year of turbulence in the recruitment market locally and nationally, we are anticipating a steady rise in opportunities in Limerick for the year ahead. We are already seeing green shoots of recruitment appear across multiple sectors, several of which experienced a challenging 12 months.”
Employers, she added, are seeking individuals with qualifications and experience in accounting, insurance, science, engineering, cybersecurity, social care and construction among other things.