Ireland has ranked 33rd out of 35 in the latest Hays Global Talent Tracker - but what does that really mean? And more importantly, what does it mean for you and your business?

In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, we dive into the realities of Ireland’s current talent market, the challenges highlighted by the Global Talent Tracker, and what HR and business leaders can start doing today to prepare for 2030 and beyond.

Dave is joined by Barney Ely, Senior Managing Director at Hays Ireland & Northern Ireland, and John Clere, founder of Unmake, to explore Ireland’s talent landscape - from labour market strengths and skills gaps to the critical human capabilities that will define the future of work.

Together, they break down where Ireland is performing well, where improvement is needed, and how organisations can build adaptable, future-ready teams in a world being reshaped by AI.

Guests

• Barney Ely – Senior Managing Director, Hays Ireland & Northern Ireland


• John Cleere – Founder, Unmake

Topics include:

• Ireland’s Ranking in the Hays Global Talent Tracker


• Ireland’s Strengths: Innovation, STEM Capability & Workforce Participation


• The Skills That Will Matter Most by 2030


• Resilience, Adaptability & Creative Thinking as “Survival Skills”


• How AI Is Reshaping Workforce Planning


• How HR Can Build Cultures of Curiosity, Collaboration & Continuous Learning


• The Importance of Future Thinking, Tacit Knowledge & Communities of Practice


• Retention in 2025: Why It’s More About the Mind Than the Wallet


• Recruitment Strategy: How to Work Better with Your Hiring Partners

Resources:

• Hays Global Talent Tracker – full interactive report & PDF


• World Economic Forum – Future of Jobs 2030


• Living Knowledge Workshops by Unmake


• Book: Mastering Uncertainty by Matt Watkinson


• Book: A New Way to Think by Roger Martin

Get in touch

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If you have any suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at dcorkery@insighthr.ie or connect with him on LinkedIn.

About The HR Room Podcast

The HR Room Podcast is a series from Insight HR, where we talk to business leaders and HR professionals from around Ireland about the topics that matter most to people leaders today.

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