The talent trends shaping Northern Ireland’s recruitment market.
Across the last quarter, our Professional Recruitment team has continued to see a broad range of hiring activity across Finance, HR, Legal and Business Services.
While the requirements differ across each discipline, some common themes are emerging. Employers are placing greater value on relevant sector experience, commercial awareness and the ability to make an immediate contribution, while candidates are increasingly considering the wider opportunity, culture and long-term prospects when making their next career move.
Our team has supported organisations across professional services, technology, PE backed businesses, construction and manufacturing this quarter, giving us insight into the changing requirements across a diverse range of Northern Ireland businesses.
Alongside our recruitment activity, we have also produced a series of sector-specific Salary & Benefits Insight Reports, covering Construction & Manufacturing, Professional Services, Technology and FMCG. These reports provide a useful benchmark on current salary levels and benefits across each sector and are available to request directly from any member of our Professional Recruitment team.
THE MARKET AT A GLANCE
857,660
Employee jobs across Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland employee jobs reached a new series high in June 2026, highlighting the continued strength of the local employment market.
5.6%
Annual increase in median monthly pay
Median monthly pay for NI employees increased by 5.6% year on year in August 2026, reflecting the continued importance of remuneration within the wider talent market.
3,200+
Solicitors practising in Northern Ireland
The local legal profession represents a significant specialist talent pool, with more than 3,200 solicitors currently practising across the jurisdiction.
Sources:
NISRA, Labour Market Report and Quarterly Employment Survey, 2026
Law Society of Northern Ireland
PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT INSIGHTS
Finance | Sector Expertise Matters
This quarter, one of the clearest trends we have seen across Finance has been the increasing importance of sector specific experience.
Businesses are looking beyond technical capability when hiring finance professionals. Experience within a particular industry, an understanding of its commercial drivers and the ability to contribute beyond traditional financial reporting are increasingly important considerations.
This is a trend we are seeing across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with our ROI Finance team seeing similar demand from businesses looking for finance professionals who understand their sector and can contribute commercially.
“While salaries continue to increase across the finance market, so too are expectations around the value and impact candidates can bring from day one. We are seeing greater emphasis on sector experience and commercial understanding, particularly where businesses need finance professionals who can quickly understand their environment and make a tangible contribution.”
Laura Haggan | Director, Finance
Business Services | A Broadening Remit
Our Business Services team has seen a diverse range of requirements this quarter, spanning Marketing and Sales, Executive and Personal Assistants, as well as more operationally focused positions.
The breadth of these appointments reflects the increasingly varied role that business services professionals play within organisations, with employers looking for individuals who can take ownership, operate autonomously and contribute beyond a traditional support function.
“The breadth of roles we have worked on this quarter reflects how much the expectations of business services professionals have evolved. Clients are looking for people who can take ownership, understand the wider business and make a tangible contribution.”
Nicky Strutt | Senior Consultant, Business Services
Legal | A Specialist Talent Market
The Legal team has remained busy across the market this quarter, with activity spanning a broad range of appointments.
Technical expertise remains fundamental, but we are also seeing clients consider commercial awareness, cultural alignment and longer-term potential when assessing candidates. With a sizeable specialist legal talent pool in Northern Ireland, understanding individual motivations and career ambitions remains an important part of successful recruitment.
“The legal market has shifted noticeably over the past year. At this time last year, much of the demand we were seeing was centred around Civil Litigation and Employment, whereas we are now seeing increased activity across Private Client and Corporate. It is an interesting reflection of how client demand and the wider market continue to evolve.”
Ciara O’Connor | Principal Consultant, Legal
HR | A More Specialist Function
HR recruitment has seen particularly strong activity this quarter, with more roles registered across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland than we have seen previously. While increased visibility for our teams will have contributed, the volume also points to growing demand for HR capability across the wider market.
As organisations prepare for growth, change and transformation, we are seeing greater investment in people, systems and technology, including ERP and AI implementation. This is also contributing to a more specialist HR market, with increased demand across areas such as Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations and Learning & Development. Notably, we have registered more L&D roles this quarter than ever before.
LOOKING TOWARDS Q4
As we move towards the final quarter of the year, we expect employers to remain focused on securing the specialist skills and experience required to support growth, change and day to day business performance.
Across Finance, HR, Legal and Business Services, the ability to demonstrate relevant experience, commercial understanding and tangible impact continues to shape the recruitment conversation.
Our Professional Recruitment team supports businesses across Northern Ireland with permanent recruitment across Finance, HR, Legal and Business Services.
TEAM NEWS
It has been a busy quarter for the team, with some exciting developments to celebrate.
We were delighted to welcome Leon McHugh back from maternity leave and are very pleased to have him back with the team.
We are also delighted to congratulate Ciara O’Connor on her promotion to Principal Consultant, recognising her continued contribution to our Legal division.
We are also delighted to share that Beth Gault, previously Senior Consultant within Finance, has moved into a new role as Commercial Marketing & Business Development Manager (hence this lovely newsletter…). Laura Haggan is now the point of contact for all Accountancy Practice and Financial Services requirements.
Finally, we said a fond farewell to Nadia Scates, our Operations Executive, as she left Artemis to pursue her next career chapter in HR with FSCom.
From all of us at Artemis, congratulations and best wishes to Leon, Ciara, Beth and Nadia.