Sustainability is playing an ‘increasingly important’ role in terms of influencing employment decisions among jobseekers in Ireland, a new report from Matrix Recruitment has found.
According to Matrix Recruitment’s first annual ESG Careers Report, half (50%) of Irish jobseekers said that the presence of a sustainability policy would influence their decision to accept a particular role.
Among those aged under 30, some 56% of respondents said that they would ask potential employers about their company’s sustainability goals during an interview, while one in eight (12%) of all respondents said that they would refuse a job offer outright if a sustainability policy wasn’t in place.
‘A clear shift’
“We’re seeing a clear shift in what today’s workforce expects,” commented Rena Weld, recruitment manager at Matrix Recruitment. “Younger candidates especially are prioritising environmental values and ESG commitments.
“Employers must embed sustainability into their culture, and not just talk about it, if they want to attract and retain talent.”
Sustainable jobs
Other findings from the study include that 85% of jobseekers not currently in a ‘green’ role would consider a job that contributes to climate action in the future. However, unclear job descriptions (29%) and a shortage of entry-level positions (28%) were cited as barriers to this ambition.
Just over half (51%) of respondents admitted to lacking formal qualifications in sustainability, however one in ten said that they would be willing to return to full-time education or take a pay cut in order to pursue a sustainable role.
Some 59% said they would prefer to upskill within their current company, while 45% were open to pursuing part-time college courses.
Elsewhere, the study found that 84% of respondents believe that all companies in Ireland, regardless of their size, should be required to disclose their environmental and ESG impact. The survey was undertaken in May 2025. Read more here.
