Irish employers prioritising ‘finding the right long-term hire’ in 2026

Matrix Recruitment’s latest Workforce Trends Report found that multiple factors, such as pay transparency and flexibility are impacting the recruitment landscape.

Hiring platform Matrix Recruitment has published its hiring data for the first half of 2026 and what it found is that so far, employers are placing far greater emphasis on sourcing the ‘right kind’ of long-term talent. This involves a more structured recruitment process with more efficient hiring decision making. 

The report also found that recruitment activity has been resilient, as the number of job advertisements are consistent with figures from the same period last year,  particularly across sectors experiencing ongoing skills shortages, such as manufacturing, engineering and financial services.

In line with the figures showing a change in employer hiring behaviour, there was a decline in the number of roles being filled after a single interview. Matrix’s report said that the proportion of positions filled after just one interview fell from 31pc in the first half of 2025 to 21pc during the same period in 2026.

Despite the more rigorous recruitment processes, however, Matrix also found that the average time to fill a permanent role has fallen from roughly 59 days to 54, year-on-year. 

Commenting on the findings, Breda Dooley, the head of recruitment at Matrix Recruitment, said “employers are taking a more strategic approach to recruitment. They’re looking beyond immediate skills and experience to find candidates who will add long-term value to their organisations.

“As a result, we’re seeing more structured, multi-stage interview processes, particularly for permanent roles.”

She added, “Although interview processes have become more thorough, employers are moving faster once they identify the right candidate. Better workforce planning and greater clarity around hiring needs are helping organisations reduce the hiring process without compromising on the quality of their recruitment decisions.”

So far in 2026, there have been a number of reports and experts exploring the growing demand for contract and temporary employees and Matrix’s research continues that trend. The research recorded a 12pc increase in temporary vacancies during the first six months of 2026, while temporary payroll placements increased by almost 10pc.

Dooley said, “While permanent hiring decisions are becoming more deliberate, many organisations are simultaneously using temporary and contract talent to maintain agility in an uncertain economic environment.”

A tempting offer

Employees too are becoming more selective about their work-based decision-making. Workplace flexibility, for example, was found to be a key priority for applicants

Candidates are now raising salary concerns much sooner in the hiring process, which Matrix found to be reflective of a greater demand for pay transparency and the opportunity to fully assess a role’s potential early on. 

Dooley said, “Candidates are evaluating employers just as carefully as employers are evaluating them. This is why clear communication, transparency around job responsibilities, salaries and benefits and an efficient recruitment process have become critical to securing top talent.”

The demand for hybrid working is also continuing to shape recruitment outcomes. According to Matrix Recruitment’s data, full-time, office-based roles are receiving up to 40pc fewer applications than comparable positions offering hybrid working arrangements.

She added, “Hybrid working is no longer considered a perk, it has become a core component of a competitive employment offering. Employers that fail to recognise this shift in candidate expectations are likely to face increasing challenges in attracting and retaining skilled professionals.”

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