Irish people want more flexible working practices, cybersecurity searches have surged in the UK and the French are on the hunt for ‘happiness’.
In its The Year in Job Search report, job site Indeed revealed that the number of Irish people searching for jobs using the term ‘remote’ surged 171pc.
This is because technology advances have led to companies adopting more flexible approaches to remote working and, according to Indeed, workers are responding.
‘For employers, remote working has become more of an option for staff as technology and broadband speeds advance’
– GERARD MURNAGHAN
Recent storms and rail strikes, increasing traffic, and the desire to avoid lengthy commutes are also making remote working more attractive.
Reinforcing Irish attitudes to work, the data showed a strong uptick in searches for part-time work of around 441pc.
In-demand skills for 2018
Searches for roles as front-end developers and UX designers were strong over the 12 months, rising by more than 130pc and signalling a continuing improvement in the numbers looking for tech roles, which will hopefully help to narrow the skills gap the sector faces.
Data released by Indeed earlier in 2017 showed that the shortage of people with the most in-demand technology skills was already starting to ease as the ratio of clicks to posts increased by 19pc over the previous 12 months.
By tracking the number of advertised roles and the number of clicks from candidates, Indeed can gauge the mismatch between demand and supply.
Indeed’s data also showed a 183pc increase in students in Ireland looking for summer internships. With many highly qualified graduates now available to employers, this reflects the recognition among students of the need to secure internships and gain valuable work experience.
Globally, there was a fourfold increase in the numbers of Americans seeking work in the budding marijuana industry, and the UK saw a surge in interest in cybersecurity and blockchain roles.
French workers placed a premium on wellbeing in their job searches, with ‘happiness’ as a search term increasing by 200pc.
“The year-on-year trends highlight ongoing changes in the way that Irish people work,” said Indeed EMEA vice-president Gerard Murnaghan.
“For employers, remote working has become more of an option for staff as technology and broadband speeds advance. From an employee’s perspective, remote working gives them a flexibility to overcome things like childcare commitments or challenging commutes, or to simply maximise their productivity and time.”
Murnaghan added that the increasing numbers searching for part-time work points to the way that work lives are being shaped by wider social change.
“People live much longer now and, when they reach retirement age, they frequently want or need to keep their foot in the door of the jobs market.
“This is leading to increasing demand for flexible, part-time employment options, which allow people to continue achieving career goals and provide ongoing financial security.”
