The number of professional jobs on offer was up 7% in November compared with the same month in 2017, according to the Morgan McKinley employment monitor.

However, the number of new professional job opportunities available in November fell by 8.5% compared to October, and as there was a decline of 27% in the number of professionals seeking new roles in November compared to the previous month, the recruitment company warns of a growing “talent crunch”.

Global FDI director Tracy Keevans said: “While we are still attracting a lot of European talent into Ireland, we are now facing more competition than before from other European employers who are actively looking to secure European native talent based here back to their countries of origin. 

“Furthermore, employers are continuing to find it difficult to navigate the lengthy processing times for employment permits and waiting times to secure residence permits. There needs to be continued focus on the government to reduce these delays.  Similarly, employers need to be open to considering talent beyond Europe, as well as offering both financial and relocation support in order to effectively attract talent here.”

Keevans added that the main growth area in the legal and supply chain sectors is in the area of trade compliance and customs and duty professionals. "There is lot of demand for talent both in terms of global and EMEA trade compliance and we are expecting this to grow into 2019," she said. "Furthermore, asset management and insurance companies setting up new legal entities or subsidiary teams in Ireland are hiring heads of legal and compliance professionals as key hires for that initial set-up."

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