Dublin employers face a difficult balancing act: offering packages that attract and retain skilled people while keeping employment costs sustainable. Understanding what employees value - and what might encourage them to leave - can help businesses make better decisions about where to invest.
Connexus is inviting Dublin Chamber members to contribute to its 2027 Salary Survey, bringing their experiences to research focused specifically on Ireland’s talent market.
Building on its previous annual salary research, the survey will examine salary pressures, employment packages and the factors influencing career decisions. Separate employer and candidate editions will bring together both perspectives, providing context for businesses planning their workforce and remuneration budgets for 2027.
Skai O’Sullivan, Talent Director at Connexus, said: “Businesses are facing pressure from both sides. They need to offer competitive packages to attract and retain good people, while managing rising costs themselves. With Dublin’s cost of living continuing to influence salary expectations, understanding what candidates actually value has never been more important. That’s what we want this research to help employers navigate.”
The Connexus Salary Guide 2026 provided businesses with role-specific benchmarks to support salary reviews and recruitment budgeting.
For 2027, Connexus plans to expand the report’s analysis, exploring where employer budgets and candidate expectations differ, which benefits carry the most weight and what influences employees’ decisions to stay or move. The aim is to help businesses put salary bands in context, identify potential retention risks and shape employment offers that support their commercial priorities.
Keith McLoughlin, Search Director at Connexus, said: “When businesses struggle to attract the right people, the impact goes beyond an unfilled vacancy. Recruitment delays can put pressure on existing teams, slow growth and increase costs. We want this research to give employers a clearer understanding of where the challenges lie and how they can position themselves more competitively in the talent market.”
Connexus is inviting business owners, senior leaders, HR professionals and hiring managers to complete the employer survey. Professionals can share their perspectives through the separate candidate survey.
Contributions from a wider range of businesses will help the findings reflect more of the experiences and challenges across Ireland’s employer community. For Dublin Chamber members, taking part is an opportunity to ensure their own hiring and retention challenges inform practical insights for 2027 planning.
Take part in the Connexus Salary Survey 2027