The number of professional job vacancies in Ireland decreased by 3% in August compared to the same month a year ago, according to the latest Morgan McKinley Ireland Monthly Employment Monitor.

The monitor, published in Business World Ireland, tracks the number of new job vacancies and new candidates within Ireland each month.

There was a 19% increase in the number of professionals seeking jobs in Ireland in August compared to the same month a year ago. Morgan McKinley believes this indicates continuing high levels of mobility and perceived opportunity among the professional workforce and reflects the rate of unemployment (6.3% in August). The monitor adds that there is an increased focus on employee retention, career planning and succession programmes and an overall strengthening of the remuneration and benefits being offered to professionals.

The monitor also finds that professional services firms including audit, financial, treasury and legal are under increasing pressure to retain staff as overall confidence within the economy remains high and increasingly mobile employees pursue further career advancement. There is demand for, and currently a short supply of, legal secretaries and also senior level executive assistants with international experience.

Morgan McKinley also stated that procurement in, and from Ireland, is becoming more global and more strategic in nature, requiring specialist skills and qualifications. This is also stimulating an influx in employees from other countries.