REVEALED: Nearly 50% of Irish jobseekers would reject dream job if they couldn't work from home

A new report has revealed that hybrid working is a key deal breaker for Irish jobseekers. 

Nearly half of jobseekers (47%) would refuse a job offer if there were no hybrid or fully remote working options offered, compared to a global average of 29%.

The research also found that 61% of jobseekers would turn down an otherwise attractive job offer from an employer if they received a negative impression during an interview.

These findings were a result of an online survey by The Stepstone Group, a global jobs platform and parent company of IrishJobs, from October to December, 2023. 150,735 people in 188 countries participated, including 1,746 respondents in Ireland.

The findings also highlight the growing importance of corporate environmental, social and governance policy for Irish jobseekers.

Almost one in five (18%) of jobseekers would refuse a job offer from an employer that didn’t have environmental or sustainability initiatives in place. 30% of jobseekers would not accept a job offer from an employer that didn’t offer mental health or wellbeing benefits.

“The Irish economy continues to expand, albeit at a more moderate pace, with the rate of unemployment remaining at a record low of 4%. Against this backdrop of near full employment, there continues to be significant competition among employers to attract and retain skilled talent,” said Sam Dooley, country director of The Stepstone Group Ireland.

“Amidst such a tight labour market it’s crucial that employers regularly review and update their talent offerings to ensure they meet workers' expectations. 

“With nearly half of jobseekers willing to turn down opportunities that do not provide hybrid or fully remote working options, employers should ensure they’re evolving their policies to address these needs and comply with new government guidelines on the right to request remote work.”

A good work-life balance was the top job preference among Irish workers, while financial compensation, job security and the amount of paid time off/holidays were the other most important work preferences in Ireland.