Youth Jobs in Ireland: Why Young People Are Feeling the Pressure in 2026
Ireland’s labour market is still creating jobs, but for many young people, finding that first real step into work is becoming more difficult.
On paper, the wider economy remains relatively strong. Employment in Ireland rose to 2.83 million people in Q4 2025, with 56,700 jobs added year-on-year. But that headline doesn’t tell the full story. For younger workers aged 15–24, the market is noticeably tighter, with higher unemployment and fewer straightforward entry-level opportunities than many expected.
Whether you’re a student, graduate, apprentice, school leaver or employer, youth jobs in Ireland have become one of the most important labour-market issues of 2026.
Youth unemployment in Ireland is rising faster than the wider market
The overall unemployment rate in Ireland was 4.6% in February 2026, but the picture is very different for younger people. The youth unemployment rate (ages 15–24) reached 12.4% in February 2026, up from 11.9% in January and far above the national average.
That gap matters.
It means young jobseekers are facing a labour market where:
- employers are hiring more cautiously,
- competition for entry-level roles is stronger,
- and many traditional “starter jobs” are under pressure.
The trend didn’t appear overnight. Across 2025, youth unemployment remained elevated:
- 9.5% in Q1 2025
- 13.2% in Q2 2025
- 14.1% in Q3 2025
- 9.8% in Q4 2025
So while there has been some quarter-to-quarter movement, the bigger picture is clear: young people remain more exposed than older workers when the jobs market softens.