The number of job vacancies in Ireland decreased by 1% during the first quarter of 2019 when compared to the same period last year, according to the Q1 2019 IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index.

When compared to the previous quarter, job vacancies rose by 7%.

Tourism continued to be one of Ireland’s strongest performing sectors. Job advertisements in the hotel and catering sector increased by 9% year-on-year and 13% quarter-on-quarter.

Meanwhile, jobs in marketing and in sales declined by 16% and 17% year-on-year, respectively.

Orla Moran, General Manager, IrishJobs.ie, commented, “Ireland’s economic outlook remains largely unchanged from Q4 2018. Despite the interminable length of Brexit negotiations, businesses should not forget how a sudden or nasty UK-EU divorce could affect their access to talent; contingency plans are essential. Euroscepticism, too, is on the rise across the bloc, and European elections in May could produce a different, less open parliament.”