The majority, or 58% of employers in Ireland hire staff based on potential, rather than experience or qualification, as demand for skills outstrips supply in Ireland, according to research from Walters People, part of Robert Walters.

Walters People found that 94% of employers state that their potential-based hires have become a valuable part of their team with less than a fifth (17%) of hiring manager expressing concerns about potential-based hires having the capability to ‘learn quickly on the job.’ More than half, or 55% of professionals felt that learning and growth opportunities were more important to them than higher salaries.

Meanwhile, the survey shows that 65% of employers anticipate a skills shortage in 2020, with the most acute skills shortage being felt at the mid-management (57%) and junior/executive (37%) level, typically where Millennials (aged 25 – 35) and Generation Z (aged 18 – 24) are employed.

Walters People also found that, in Ireland, 89% of companies take more than a month to fill a position, yet 40% of those hires are unsuccessful, and it takes a month to a year to reach a mutual decision that the employee was not the right fit.

Furthermore, 20% of hires fail because of a lack of knowledge or expertise. The remaining 80% fail for reasons ranging from a mismatch in culture, attitude and ethics.

In the survey, hiring managers stated that the following factors from an interviewee determined a candidate’s potential: willingness to learn (74%), motivation (65%), engagement (34%), creativity (29%), insights (16%) and curiosity (13%).

Director of Walters People Ireland, Sarah Owen, commented, "Hiring based on potential is highlighting an opportunity for employers and employees to learn from each other. We are seeing more employers now consider junior and potential-based hires as an invest into a more long-term approach by building a pipeline of talent for the future. Whilst helping to ease the workload, within 3-6 months these candidates are more than capable of having a sound understanding the industry and job role, whilst bringing a fresh approach and eagerness to learn."