2025 Tech Hiring Trends: The Future is Now (Sort Of)

We’re only two months into 2025, and the job market is already shifting at lightning speed. AI is taking over, traditional degrees are losing their grip, and companies are racing to adapt. Whether you're a job seeker, a hiring manager, or just someone trying to make sense of the evolving tech landscape, we've got the insights you need. So grab a coffee (or something stronger), and let’s dive into the top tech hiring trends of 2025.

AI: a boon or a curse?

AI hiring is booming, and companies are scrambling to build AI-focused teams! We’ve worked closely with a number of companies building out new teams, and have gained a lot of insight into what the market looks like.

Alongside the standard technologies you’d look for (like Python, React, AWS etc.), the most common requirements we’re seeing for AI focused positions are:

• LLM - Large Language Models
• RAG - Retrieval Augmented Generation
• LlamaIndex - Framework for building context-augmented GenAI applications
• BERT - Bidirectional encoder representations from transformers
• Batch ML Inference at scale
• Hugging Face Transformers – Popular for working with large language models (LLMs).
• LangChain – A framework for building AI-powered applications with LLMs.

What should companies do?

There are a small number of people with these skill sets. Those with this experience are likely already working and may not be open to moving, which means the pool of people available is that bit smaller.

Can you offer the opportunity for people to up skill? People can’t get experience without being given an opportunity to learn, so it’s worth thinking about getting someone with the right attitude who wants to learn.

Salaries are competitive! Naturally it varies from company to company, but ultimately there’s a big demand for this experience, and there isn’t a huge amount of people who have it, so be aware of this before you start hiring.

Location, location, location! The people you want to hire may not be based in Ireland. You need to consider the working arrangements; are you open to remote or hybrid? Remote from another country? Will you offer sponsorship and relocation?

Your interview process. Every company will be knocking on the door of people with AI experience, so they’ll most likely be speaking to a number of different companies. There’s no need to have lengthy interview processes - most places stick to three stages (four if it’s people management).

What should Job seekers do?

This is a relatively new area of growth. Money is great, but it’s important to also think of the opportunity itself and what you can learn. As there isn’t a large number of people with AI experience, if you can build upon what you have already, you’re setting yourself up for success!

Be open minded! Some companies will have hard requirements, and others will ask that you’re open minded to learning something new. If you have an opportunity to learn then grab it with both hands, if it’s something that interests you.

If you have AI experience, your skills are in demand! This is great, but be mindful that if you happen to be on a rather high salary and want to look at new options, you may find it difficult to find a company who can offer what you are looking for in order to leave your current role.

Degrees Are So Last Season!

Hiring in 2025 is all about skills, not titles. The tech industry is moving away from strict degree requirements, and Ireland’s tech talent gap is growing fast—It’s about what you can do, not what your last job title was. Ireland faces a significant tech skills shortage, particularly in STEM fields, with demand expected to increase by 8% by 2025, double the growth rate of other sectors.  (Source: Recruit Ireland)

Why it matters?

Companies are scrambling for tech-savvy pros in AI, cloud computing, and data analytics—not generic “tech leads.” In fact, Ireland’s tech sector is expected to grow by 10%, driven by specialised roles like AI architects and cloud engineers​. (Source- Recruit Ireland)

Skills-focused hiring is like swapping a blunt tool for a laser. You’re not filling a chair—you’re boosting your company’s ability to adapt, innovate, and scale. With tech moving at the speed of caffeine-fueled coding sprints, it’s crucial to bring in people who can hit the ground running on business-transforming projects.

Instead of hiring a generic “Software Developer,” companies are hunting for specialists in edge AI, predictive analytics, or multi-cloud integration. This approach means faster project launches, fewer training gaps, and a competitive edge that can’t be automated away.

Despite €150 million poured into STEM education, the skills gap persists. With roles outpacing skilled candidates, companies are finding it hard to keep up​. (Source- HERO Recruitment, Solas)

Pro tip: If relocation is a challenge due to Ireland’s housing shortage, offer remote work options. Hiring globally isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity.

Flexibility is the new currency

If 2024 showed us anything, it’s that Ireland is ready to be the global talent magnet for tech. But there’s a catch—finding top-tier candidates locally is tougher than expected. Enter global talent expansion. With skills shortages in AI, cloud computing, and data science reaching new heights, Irish companies are increasingly leaning on international talent pools to fill these gaps​. (Source- Irish Tech News)

And don’t get us wrong, Ireland's tech sector is thriving, but local talent is limited, especially for niche roles like AI specialists and cloud architects​. To keep up with the speed of innovation and the growth of sectors like tech and financial services, Irish companies need to get creative about where they’re sourcing talent from.

Ireland’s tech boom is unstoppable, but local talent is hard to find. Companies are now looking beyond borders, making global hiring a top strategy.

Why it matters?

Ireland’s housing crisis has added another layer to recruitment woes. Not only are there fewer candidates on the ground, but the lack of affordable housing has also led to job offer declines. So, what’s the fix? Global remote teams​. With 15% of Irish workers now remote, it’s clear that geographical borders don’t need to be a limit anymore​.

What should companies do?

You can’t rely on a small pool of local talent forever. Consider near-shoring (tapping into talent from nearby countries) or even full-on remote teams for hard-to-fill roles. More than half of Ireland's tech talent now works from other countries or from home​. Irish companies that have embraced hybrid or remote work are experiencing less friction in attracting talent from other countries. Flexibility is the new currency​.

For roles that can’t be fully remote, be prepared to offer relocation packages or support for international talent. The housing market’s a mess, but a good relocation package (even partial) could be the golden ticket​. Embrace global talent platforms and services (like Employer of Record setups) to make international hiring seamless. Consider partnering with agencies that specialise in placing remote candidates​.

Pro tip: Stay ahead of the curve by leveraging international training programs. On that note, the next trend....

Knowledge Won’t Download Itself

In 2025, Learning & Development (L&D) will no longer be a “nice-to-have.” It’ll be a strategic pillar for retaining top talent. And here’s why: according to a recent survey we conducted:

Why it matters?

Ireland’s tech sector is in the midst of a rapid transformation. However, only 30% of companies are actively offering career advancement programs​ (Source- All Things Talent/ Hero Recruitment)

This gap means that talent is slipping through the cracks, especially as specialised skills in areas like AI and cloud computing become even more crucial​.

As we head into 2025, companies will increasingly need to differentiate themselves by investing in forward-thinking L&D programs—think gamification, VR-based training, and personalised learning paths​. Without this focus, companies risk becoming irrelevant in a competitive market where employees can choose where they work and what they learn.

What should companies do?

If your team doesn’t have clear career growth paths, you’re leaving them open to poaching by competitors. Implement structured L&D frameworks that allow employees to gain new skills, especially in emerging tech fields. Offering certifications, mentorship opportunities, and personalised career coaching will help boost employee satisfaction and reduce attrition​.

Traditional eLearning is out; social learning, collaborative knowledge sharing, and even gamified learning are in​. In 2025, micro-learning and virtual reality (VR) tools will be the go-to methods for training employees in a way that’s engaging and practical. The global LXP (Learning Experience Platform) market, which includes platforms designed to deliver personalized learning experiences, is expected to grow from $508.5 million in 2020 to over $2 billion by 2026​.

Tech's Green Leap

Sustainability is the next big hiring trend.

Green Skills Surge in Tech The tech industry is at the forefront of green job growth, with job postings requiring green skills skyrocketing by 60% over the past year. This surge is driven by the increasing need for sustainability in AI and data center operations. Despite this growth, green hiring in tech rose by 7.3%, while the supply of skilled candidates increased by only 4.8%.

Key Green Skills in Tech:

Energy Efficiency: This skill saw significant growth, with a 52.7% increase in France and 39.3% in the UK, as companies strive to manage power needs sustainably.

Sustainability: Rapidly becoming essential, sustainability skills grew by 61.9% in Brazil, 56.4% in India, and 46.9% in the US.

Product Lifecycle Management: With a focus on circular economy practices, this skill grew by 59.3% in Australia and 37.4% in the UK.

Job Market Insights

Workers with green tech skills are highly sought after, enjoying a 54.6% higher hiring rate globally. In Ireland, this figure jumps to 79.8%, reflecting the high demand for these skills in the job market. As the tech industry continues to evolve, green skills are becoming crucial for companies aiming to meet ambitious climate goals and stay competitive in the rapidly changing landscape.

And finally, Question of the year, Every year…

Every year, one question looms large in the minds of job seekers and employers alike: What’s the job market like in 2025? At nineDots, we get this question a lot, and we take it seriously. With our finger on the pulse of the recruitment world, we dug deep into data from our extensive client list to give you the real picture. In 2025, the job market is seeing its fair share of ups and downs. From shifts in hiring trends to companies gearing up for growth, we’ve gathered some compelling insights that paint a nuanced portrait of what’s happening both in Ireland and globally from our client data.

However, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. The global job openings growth has taken a hit with a -11.08% drop, while the Irish job opening growth dipped by -3.59%. It seems the job market is tightening its belt a bit, but don’t worry, we’ve got our eyes on the upswing.

Interesting Shift?

30 companies that were playing it cool with 0 roles last year are now actively hiring both globally and in Ireland. That’s a promising twist, signaling renewed confidence in recruitment.

And for the big news, 85 companies globally and 54 in Ireland are growing stronger, hiring more roles than last year.

This is just a snapshot of what’s ahead in 2025. If you’re looking for salary trends and in-demand skills, our Salary Guide is available for download in the resources section. Need help? Give us a shout!