The majority of Irish CEOs (76%) expect Ireland’s economic growth to improve over the next 12 months, up from 50% last year, according to a survey by PwC.

At the same time, 62% of Irish business leaders believe global economic growth will improve, up from 35% last year.

The survey also found that 93% are confident about their company’s revenue prospects for the year ahead, up from 86% last year. This compares to recent all-time lows in 2020, when 16% of Irish CEOs expected the economy to grow.

For comparison, PwC’s global figures found that 58% of CEOs expect the global economy to improve in the year ahead, up from 38% last year. Meanwhile, 91% of global CEOs are confident about their company’s future revenue prospects. 

PwC’s 2025 Irish CEO survey also found that 45% of Irish CEOs expect headcount to increase by 5% or more in the next 12 months. While this is down from 53% last year, this is nearly four times the proportion who expect headcount decreases (12%).  

“Shifts in geopolitics, emerging technologies and climate transition are reshaping markets locally and globally,” Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner, PwC Ireland, said in a press release. “Irish business leaders are investing in AI and Generative AI (GenAI), addressing the opportunities and threats posed by climate change, and reinventing their operations and business models to create value in innovative ways.”

CEOs in Ireland also said that despite the optimism in economic growth, they are conscious of risks.

There are high levels of concern about a number of threats as the global landscape is shifting at an unprecedented rate: Macro-economic volatility is the top risk (93%), followed by lower availability of workers with key skills (91%). Other top risks include inflation (89%, slightly down from 95% last year), geopolitical conflict (88%), cyber threats (88%) and technology disruption (87%). 62% of Irish business leaders are concerned about social inequality, up from 47% a year ago. 

“Despite operating in an uncertain environment, Irish CEOs are more optimistic than their global counterparts and than they were a year ago,” McDonagh said. “This optimism is also reflected in strong revenue growth expectations for their own businesses, indicating we may expect continued capital investment.”

Further research found that 29% of Irish CEOs believe that their company will not be viable beyond the next decade if it continues on its current path, up from 21% two years ago.

Most Irish business leaders (84%) have taken at least one significant action (such as having developed innovative products/services, targeting a new customer base or implementing new pricing models) to change how their company creates, delivers and captures value in the last five years.

“The trends in this year’s report paint a complex picture, and in the months since the survey was conducted, we have seen further shifts in the business environment,” McDonagh added. “Business leaders are navigating a landscape where optimism and caution coexist. This report offers key perspectives and insights on how businesses can re-invent how they create, deliver and capture value, along with the risks inherent in not doing so at pace.”