Gender Pay Gap Persists in Ireland Despite Progress, New Research Shows
New research from IrishJobs reveals a persistent gender pay gap in Ireland, with men expecting to earn €11,000 more than women for the same role, skills, and experience. The findings underscore the require for greater transparency and proactive measures to address systemic inequalities in the Irish labor market.
Pay Expectations and Current Salaries
According to the IrishJobs report, based on a survey of 470 recruiters and 670 candidates, as well as an analysis of 1.3 million job adverts, men anticipate a median salary of €64,000, while women expect €53,000. [Source: RTÉ] This represents a 17% gap in pay expectations.
The data too shows a gap in current median salaries. In 2025, the median salary for male professionals in Ireland was €55,000, compared to €44,000 for women. [Source: RTÉ]
Satisfaction and Pay Rises
Men also report higher levels of satisfaction with their salaries, with 79% expressing contentment, compared to 71% of women. [Source: RTÉ] The average pay rise in 2025 was 6.5% for men and 5.4% for women. [Source: RTÉ]
Notably, nearly half of women who received a pay rise felt the increase did not fully reflect their work performance, while this sentiment was expressed by only 30% of men.
Negotiation Confidence and Sectoral Disparities
The research highlights a significant difference in confidence levels when negotiating pay rises. Over two-thirds of men feel confident in their ability to negotiate, compared to just 47% of women. [Source: RTÉ]
Dr. Adele Whelan, a senior researcher at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), points to sectoral imbalances as a key driver of the gender pay gap. [Source: RTÉ] “Men dominate in more high-paying sectors such as finance and tech, whereas women are more heavily concentrated in lower-paid yet essential sectors such as health and education.”
EU Pay Transparency Directive
The findings come as Ireland prepares to implement the EU Pay Transparency Directive in June, which will require employers to publish salary ranges in job adverts and report on gender pay gaps within their organizations. [Source: RTÉ] The directive aims to reduce pay disparities by increasing transparency and empowering individuals to negotiate fair compensation.
Currently, only 38% of job adverts in Ireland display salary ranges. [Source: IrishJobs]
Broader Gender Inequality
The gender pay gap extends beyond immediate earnings, impacting long-term financial security. The gender pension gap in Ireland is currently 35%. [Source: RTÉ] Irish women are under-represented in digitally intensive jobs, and experience a larger gender gap in advanced digital skills use at work compared to other European countries. [Source: RTÉ] This gap is particularly pronounced among younger women, suggesting it is not a generational issue that will resolve itself naturally.
Industry Response
Christopher Paye, Country Director of The Stepstone Group Ireland (IrishJobs), emphasized the need for continued efforts to address cultural and structural barriers contributing to the gender pay gap. [Source: Irish Independent]
Current Gender Pay Gap in Ireland
While the gap in pay expectations is 17%, the overall gender pay gap in Ireland, as measured by Eurostat, has fallen to 8%. [Source: RTÉ] This figure represents the gap between median female income and median male income. [Source: IrishJobs] But, the IrishJobs research suggests a more significant disparity remains in terms of expected salaries.