A new all-island survey is set to offer fresh insight into how people experience work in Ireland, from workplace expectations to the pressures shaping employment. The Working in Ireland Survey 2025 has been launched to build a clearer picture of the changing world of work across the island.
The initiative comes as employers and workers navigate major shifts in technology, workplace culture, skills needs and employment practices. Its findings are expected to support a more informed discussion about the future of work and the policies needed to respond to evolving priorities.
What the Working in Ireland Survey will examine
The survey is designed to capture perspectives from people across the island, helping identify common experiences as well as differences between regions, sectors and groups of workers. It will contribute to a broader evidence base for policymakers, employers, researchers and organisations involved in workforce planning.
Areas of interest include:
- How employees view workplace change and evolving job expectations
- The role of technology and new working practices
- Skills, training and career development needs
- Workplace wellbeing and organisational culture
- The challenges facing employers and workers in a changing labour market
Rather than focusing only on headline employment figures, the research aims to explore the lived experience of work. That could make the results particularly relevant to debates about productivity, retention, recruitment and the future of work in Ireland.
Why the research matters for employers and workers
Businesses are making decisions about hybrid work, digital tools, artificial intelligence, talent development and workplace policies. At the same time, workers are assessing flexibility, job security, progression and the balance between professional and personal responsibilities.
Reliable, all-island evidence can help ensure those decisions reflect the realities of people in different communities and industries. It may also help identify where additional support is needed, particularly as organisations compete for skills and adapt to changing economic conditions.
For policymakers, the survey can provide useful context for employment strategies, education planning and initiatives designed to strengthen participation in the labour market. For companies, the findings may offer practical signals about employee expectations and emerging workplace trends.
For further reading, explore Ireland’s latest workplace and business developments on Daily Digest.
What happens next
The launch marks the beginning of a research process intended to generate new all-island insights. Once the results are available, they should help clarify how workers and employers are responding to structural changes in the economy and in working life.
The value of the survey will ultimately depend on the breadth of participation and the way its findings are applied. Clear evidence can support better conversations, but meaningful progress will require employers, workers and decision-makers to act on what the research reveals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Working in Ireland Survey 2025?
It is an all-island research initiative examining how work is changing and how those changes are experienced by workers and employers.
Why is an all-island perspective important?
It can highlight shared workplace trends while also showing how experiences differ across locations, sectors and communities.
Who can benefit from the findings?
Policymakers, employers, workers, researchers and workforce organisations can use the evidence to inform planning and future workplace decisions.
For more perspectives on employment, workplace culture and Ireland’s changing economy, visit Media Digest.
The takeaway
The Working in Ireland Survey 2025 arrives at a time when technology, skills shortages and changing expectations are reshaping employment. Its all-island approach could provide valuable business news Ireland readers can use to understand what comes next: the future of work will be shaped not only by economic data, but also by the experiences and expectations of the people involved.