Marvin OnumonuRecruiters said they expect more job vacancies in the next few months, with 55% predicting a rise, according to the latest Labour Market Monitor from the Employment and Recruitment Federation (ERF), supported by ICON Accounting.
The research found that only 12% expected vacancies to fall.
Demand for new staff stayed strong, but fewer recruiters were confident about the number of available candidates.
Just 39% said they thought the pool of candidates would grow.
Permanent and contract hiring stayed mostly steady in July, with little change overall.
Temporary hiring moved more, as one in three firms reported more vacancies and placements, while one in five said numbers had gone down.
National figures showed more than 2.8 million people in work and the unemployment rate steady at 4.0%.
Siobhán Kinsella, president of the ERF, said: “Employers are still hiring and expect more vacancies in autumn, but talent supply remains the pinch point.
“Demand is strong; it’s access to skills that continues to test the market.”
Kinsella called for policies in Budget 2026 to support training and ease cost pressures on businesses.
