The number of new jobs advertised in Ireland for the second quarter was down 4% compared to the same quarter in 2016, according to the latest Cpl Resources Employment Market Monitor.

The monitor shows that the Q2 decrease was the first time that jobs listings have fallen year-on-year in 22 quarters, and follows a record high number of jobs posted in the first three months of 2017. The monitor follows job listings in IT and telecoms, science, engineering and supply, chain, sales and marketing, accountancy, finance and banking, as well as legal and HR.

"While this is the first time that we’ve seen a fall in jobs postings year-on-year since the start of our reporting, it is clear that companies are struggling to find the right talent and are thinking of other ways to manage their vacancies," Peter Cosgrove, director of Cpl Resources, said. “While Brexit has certainly caused some uncertainty in the market, the picture is still very strong for the Irish market as we continue to look to bringing more of the Irish diaspora home."

The monitor also found that two in three jobseekers do not believe that Brexit will help their chances of getting a job with Cosgove adding that jobseekers could find their task to be more challenging.