The NI Chamber & Queens University Belfast Q4 2025 Quarterly Business Insights…

The Northern Ireland Chamber & Queens University Belfast Q4 2025 Quarterly Business Insights Report offers some encouraging signals for the Northern Ireland labour market, particularly at a leadership and senior management level.

“Recruitment demand remains relatively high, but recruitment difficulties continue to be widespread, underlining persistent labour market constraints.”

“While hiring intentions improved modestly in Q4 2025, they remain cautious by historical standards.”

“Overall, this points to a labour market where demand is easing, but supply constraints remain a significant brake on growth.”

Hiring intentions have improved modestly as we closed out the year. More firms are planning to increase headcount than reduce it, with positive momentum across both manufacturing and services. This points to continued confidence in the medium-term outlook and reinforces that many businesses are still investing in people as part of their growth and succession plans.

That said, the report also highlights a more cautious approach in practice. Fewer businesses are actively recruiting compared to earlier in the year, especially within services, reflecting ongoing cost pressures and a more selective mindset when it comes to adding to headcount.

Importantly, where businesses are hiring, the same challenge remains. Recruitment difficulties are still high, particularly in manufacturing, underlining the ongoing shortage of experienced and capable leaders. This reinforces the need for a well-structured approach when appointing senior leaders and business-critical roles.

Read the full report here: Quarterly Business Insight NI |