Kilkenny and Waterford are named among the counties best positioned for job growth in 2026
In terms of regional performance, five counties, Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Tipperary and Mayo emerged as standout performers, demonstrating “resilience and growth.”
Carlow’s job market grew by a remarkable 92pc, with the report finding that the county, “recorded a strong uplift in opportunity volumes, supported by continued demand across manufacturing, Agri-services and engineering roles. Its position as an accessible regional hub made it attractive to employers seeking cost-effective alternatives to larger cities.”
FRS Recruitment say several counties are well positioned for 2026 and they are Cork, Dublin and Galway who are each set to experience a 10pc rise in job opportunities, while Waterford and Kilkenny will experience an 8pc and 6pc rise, respectively.
Meanwhile Wexford is set to only experience a 4pc rise, the joint second lowest in the country and just 2pc more than Leitrim.
The Agri-business industry had a though 2025, according to the report.
The agri-business sector is one of Wexford’s largest employers and in 2025, it experienced a particularly difficult and uncertain year, which led to a 15pc decline in job postings within the sector.
“The cost of doing business in the Agri-Food sector is on the rise and employers have felt the pinch. Labour has been cited as a key issue along with fertilisers, feed, energy, fuel and machinery costs. Concerns have been raised with the rising minimum wage and the lack of preparedness towards the Auto-enrolment Pension Scheme,” the report stated.
But there was some optimism for the coming year.
“For 2026, our recruiters expect to see a circa 15pc increase in the number of roles available in the sector. Positions focused on sustainability and Agri-tech will be in high demand, driven by environmental regulations and the need for efficiency. Additionally, with the farm machinery sector accounting for nearly 25,000 jobs, it is expected to see an increase.”
The prediction that the jobs market in Wexford is set to grow more slowly than its Southeast neighbours, and in some instances, significantly more slowly, is bad news for stakeholders, representatives and advocacy groups who wish to market the county as an alternative business hub to Dublin.
And in fact, it is Carlow’s doubled expected growth in comparison to Wexford, that suggests perhaps it is leading Southeast market, without city status, where business is on the up.