The number of seasonal and part-time roles has increased by 73% in the past five years, according to data from jobs site jobs.ie.

The largest rise in the seasonal and part-time jobs was seen in the hospitality sector as 39% of jobs posted were for hotels while restaurants and caterers accounted for 18%.

Christopher Paye, General Manager at Jobs.ie said that as job opportunities increase, so does the competition for talent.

"This year alone, businesses began to advertise Christmas roles as early as the summer months. With more positions available than ever, it’s becoming an increasingly challenging environment for employers,” Paye said. “August, September and October, continue to be the busiest months for Christmas recruitment suggesting that there is value in recruiting early."

Despite the increase in part-time and seasonal roles, jobs.ie found that the number of Christmas jobs available in retail has fallen back by 16% this year when compared to the same period in 2018.