Irish Technology Market Trends 2022 to 2026: What Our Tech Survey Data Shows
The Irish technology market has gone through three distinct phases over the past five years, and understanding where each phase started and ended tells you a lot about where things are heading.
Looking back across our annual surveys from 2022 through to 2026, the first phase was the post-pandemic hiring boom of 2022, where demand for talent outstripped supply and candidates had more choice than at any point in recent memory. The second was the inflation-driven market of 2023 and early 2024, where salary reviews, cost-of-living pressures and retention became the dominant themes. The third phase is where we find ourselves today: a more mature market where hiring activity remains strong, but companies are balancing growth ambitions with greater caution around headcount, AI adoption and investment decisions.
Candidates Are Still Moving – But for Different Reasons
One of the most interesting findings is that candidate mobility has remained resilient throughout every stage of this cycle. Despite inflation easing and hiring becoming more measured, professionals remain highly willing to move for the right opportunity. What has changed is their motivation. In 2022 flexibility and remote working rapidly emerged as a key driver of attraction. By 2026, career progression, meaningful work and long-term development have become almost as important as salary itself.
The Hiring Process Has Become the Problem
The data also highlights a shift in the challenges employers face. Historically, organisations blamed talent shortages for hiring difficulties. While skill shortages remain a real issue, our 2025 and 2026 surveys suggest many companies are now losing candidates because of their own internal processes. Slow interview cycles, lengthy approvals and delayed decision making have overtaken talent availability as the biggest hiring obstacle. In a market where skilled professionals can secure multiple opportunities at the same time, speed of decision making has become a competitive advantage.
Hybrid Working Is Now the Default
Another clear trend is the normalisation of hybrid working. The debate around remote versus office-based work has largely settled. Fully remote opportunities still exist but are no longer the dominant model. Flexible hybrid working has emerged as the preferred balance for both employers and employees, and organisations that continue to offer it remain better positioned to attract and retain experienced professionals.
AI Has Moved from Conversation to Reality
Artificial intelligence has become the defining topic of the 2025 and 2026 surveys. Unlike previous years where AI was viewed primarily as an emerging technology, respondents now see it as a practical workplace reality. Most technology professionals do not view AI purely as a threat. While concerns around automation and job displacement exist, the majority believe AI will create new opportunities, provided organisations invest appropriately in training, governance and adoption strategies. Take a look at our guide for Irish Hiring Managers on how to tackle AI usage in interviews!
The Contract Market Is Sending a Clear Signal
The clearest signal for 2026 comes from the contract market. Demand for contractors increased throughout 2025, particularly across AI, cyber security, regulatory compliance and transformation programmes. Historically, contractor demand has often preceded permanent hiring growth. The increase we are currently seeing suggests organisations are moving from planning into execution, using contractors to accelerate strategic initiatives while maintaining flexibility around long-term headcount commitments.
What It All Means for the Tech Market in 2026
Overall, the data paints a positive picture for the Irish technology sector. The market is no longer experiencing the exceptional growth rates seen immediately after the pandemic, but it has evolved into a healthier and more sustainable environment. Organisations continue to invest in transformation, candidates continue to have real opportunities, and emerging areas such as AI, cyber security and data remain strong growth engines. Success in 2026 will likely depend less on offering the highest salary and more on providing clear career progression, efficient hiring processes, flexible working arrangements and meaningful opportunities to develop future-focused skills.
If you would like to look at some specialism focused tech salary surveys or surveys from previous years please see here. Or if you would like to talk through what the data means for your own hiring plans this year, get in touch with the IT Search team.
