Northern Ireland employers pay premium as skills become primary talent currency

Skills-based recruitment is reshaping Northern Ireland's labour market as employers compete for specialist capabilities across leadership, technology and project management roles, according to new research from NIJobs.

In a report by News Letter, analysis of 183,000 job advertisements reveals that leadership and people management skills are the most sought-after capabilities, cited by 70% of recruiters, followed by technical skills at 68% and project management at 61%.

The research, which surveyed 150 recruiters and 500 candidates across Northern Ireland, found that nearly half of workers intend to seek new roles in 2026, with 51% motivated primarily by higher salaries. However, economic uncertainty is also driving 18% to prioritise job security over mobility.

Construction leads advertised median salaries at £45,000 (€52,650), followed by engineering at £41,500 (€48,555), healthcare at £40,000 (€46,800) and technology at £39,500 (€46,215). The overall median advertised salary stands at £30,000 (€35,100).

Economic pressures are influencing compensation strategies, with 45% of employers reviewing salary increases and bonuses. A third have reduced planned pay rises, whilst 25% have decreased bonus payments. In response, 23% are expanding benefits packages to maintain competitiveness.

Candidates are demanding comprehensive employment packages beyond base salary. Flexible working hours rank as the most desired benefit at 46%, with 32% prioritising hybrid working options. Notably, 40% of workers said they would not apply for roles lacking flexibility, rising to 51% for positions without hybrid arrangements.

Pay transparency has become non-negotiable, with 82% of jobseekers avoiding roles without salary information. Currently, 49% of Northern Ireland job advertisements include salary details, compared to 38% in the Republic of Ireland.

Michael Connor, senior director at NIJobs, said that businesses embracing enhanced benefits and full pay transparency will build trust with candidates during recruitment.

Read more on the workforce insights from the NIJobs research.