43% of professionals say company culture most important when considering new roles

Kenneth Fox

A total of 43 per cent of Irish professionals say company culture is the most important factor when considering new positions.

As the Irish jobs market continues to show strong demand in a number of sectors, new data from Robert Walters shows that competition is ramping up between the country’s employers, especially in terms of their employee offerings.

Over half of Irish employers’ report struggling to attract and retain staff now vs 2024, 72 per cent of Irish employees do not think their expectations are taken note of by employers and 89 per cent have quit positions due to a bad relationship with management.

Suzanne Feeney, country manager at Robert Walters Ireland: “Compensation, culture, progression and hybrid working continue to be top priorities for professionals – and if Irish employers wish to attract top talent, they must response accordingly. Tailoring their offerings to ensure they remain attractive in a market where competition is high.”

Data from Ireland’s Great Place to Work award finds that 93 per cent of employees in companies certified as ‘Ireland’s Best Workplaces’ felt their organisation is a friendly place to work – vs. just 68 per cent of non-certified workplaces.

In addition to company culture, other attractive employer offerings for professionals are relevant benefits (27 per cent) and career advancement opportunities (24 per cent).

Indeed, data from Robert Walters’ Benefits Guide highlights that the top three most important workplace benefits to Irish professionals are health and medical insurance (89 per cent), bonus schemes (82 per cent) and work from home subsidies and equipment (61 per cent).

Irish employers would do well to take heed of employee expectations, particularly considering that over half admit to struggling more to attract and retain staff this year compared to 2024.

Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of Irish professionals feel their expectations are overlooked by their employers, while less than 20 per cent believe their voices are only 'sometimes' acknowledged.

Suzanne said: : “Now, more than ever employers should be going to lengths to take heed of employee demands – those who fail to do so, risk diminished returns when it comes to attracting and retaining staff.”

When the Robert Walters poll asked Irish employers what they thought was impacting their ability to attract and retain staff, the majority (60 per cent) stated competition being at an all-time high.

Indeed, high competition is being noted across the board in professional services sectors in Ireland – especially within IT, Accounting and Insurance. With top skills in demand being analytical skills, data analysis, customer relationship management and SQL.

Often central to a good workplace culture is employees and teams having positive working relationships with their immediate managers. Being their main touchpoint, managers have an unofficial role as the face of workplace culture.

However, the Robert Walters poll found a surprising 89 per cent of Irish professionals have admitted to quitting a role due to a bad relationship with their line manager.

Suzanne said: “Although salaries play an essential role in attraction and retention, there are other crucial factors employers shouldn’t overlook.

“Managers play a huge part in professional’s experience of a workplace and as such, they should be trained to give their teams the best experience possible. A positive workplace culture will in turn boost engagement and morale levels, which will inevitably lead to improved productivity, rates of attraction and lower staff turnover.”