Recruiting for financial roles against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, not to mention a hugely competitive hiring market, has become a challenging prospect for employers all over the country.
However, these obstacles can be equally beneficial for hiring managers, who often discover strategic opportunities when looking for solutions; opportunities that can significantly boost a company’s recruitment efforts.
In this article, we delve into both the challenges and possibilities linked to hiring in 2025, so that you know what to expect and how to succeed.
Recruitment trends in 2025
With almost three-quarters of Irish employers currently in recruitment mode, the first quarter of 2025 alone saw the creation of 90,800 jobs. While this paints a positive overall picture, employers are struggling to fill vacant roles with top-tier talent.
This may have something to do with the changing attitudes of candidates.
According to a recent survey, nearly 70% of the workforce operating in the digital sphere in Ireland is considering a job change in 2025. This is a worrying forecast for employers within the financial services industry, given the widespread adoption of digital technologies across the sector.
Another concerning revelation in the context of digital innovation is the fact that, according to a report by Tasc, almost 90% of financial sector workers fear that the increased integration of AI practices will lead to job losses.
Given the precarious recruitment landscape, combined with a significant spike in demand for skilled professionals, businesses within the financial services sector are now faced with new and evolving challenges.
The challenges of recruiting for financial roles
As we find ourselves firmly in the third quarter of the year, let’s examine the most prevalent predicaments that companies recruiting for financial roles face.
1. A significant shortage of top talent
Across the financial sector, critical skills are in short supply.
Whether a company is hiring for traditional finance roles or emerging positions that involve data analytics, cybersecurity and compliance, hiring managers struggle to find candidates with the right mix of expertise.
2. Intense competition for skilled candidates
As demand grows for professionals with specialised skills, such as regulatory compliance, financial analytics and fintech integration, experienced candidates often receive multiple job offers.
This can make it harder for employers to stand out from the crowd and attract these professionals with unique offerings.
3. Meeting regulatory and compliance requirements when recruiting for finance roles
When hiring for financial roles, organisations must ensure full compliance with industry standards and legal obligations. This involves verifying professional qualifications, conducting thorough background and credit checks, and other relevant checks.
Each of these steps can significantly slow down the hiring process.
4. Reducing employee turnover
With more than half of Irish employers struggling to retain staff in 2025, reducing employee turnover remains a major factor affecting recruitment.
Limited career progression opportunities and increasing expectations around work–life balance and flexibility are likely to be key drivers of this.
Existing employees may be swayed by attractive offers from competitors or fintech firms offering faster growth and a more diverse workplace culture.
5. Exceeding candidate expectations
From embracing technology to streamline the candidate experience, to reassessing employer brand and diversity and inclusion efforts, there are many ways employers can pave the way for success in recruitment.
Unfortunately, these vital steps are not always prioritised by hiring companies, which can lead to prolonged time to hire and missing out on excellent candidates.
While each of the above challenges can prove frustrating for employers looking to expand and enhance their workforce, they also present valid opportunities for improvement, which can ultimately lead to future success.
Leveraging opportunities when recruiting for financial roles
To address the most prominent recruitment challenges head-on, business owners should look to the opportunities mentioned above to find the pathway towards an effective solution. This involves adopting the following practices when recruiting for financial roles:
- Broaden your talent pool by utilising various channels, from employee referrals and social media platforms to assessing previous applicants and widening your geographical scope.
- Invest in reskilling or upskilling your existing workforce and provide a clear route towards career progression.
- Utilise digital tools to speed up compliance checks and engage compliance terms early.
- Revise and redefine your employer branding to attract the talent you want to work with.
- Examine vital areas of your existing company culture, such as diversity and inclusion.
- Nurture a positive work-life balance by offering hybrid or remote working opportunities.
- Enhance the candidate experience by integrating technology (such as AI-driven screening and virtual interviewing) into the hiring process to streamline everything from communication to the interview process.
- Engage proactively with both new hires and unsuccessful candidates, providing and welcoming feedback to gain vital insights.
- Work with a specialist recruitment agency that will help you take a tailored approach to the recruitment process.
Leveraging these opportunities for improvement will empower you to both attract and retain the capable, adaptable professionals that will be central to your future success.
Overcome recruitment challenges with the help of 360 Search
Recruitment in financial services today means navigating a maze of talent shortages, compliance complexity, retention pressures, and rising expectations. Yet, these challenges each offer opportunities to reassess and refine your talent strategy, particularly with the right recruitment team by your side.
At 360 Search, our services combine deep financial sector expertise with advanced sourcing technologies. We offer:
- Specialist knowledge in insurance, pensions, compliance, finance, asset management and tech recruiting.
- Multichannel sourcing, accessing active and passive talent, from emerging fintech to established financial services.
- Compliance‑informed screening, structured interviews and digital-first candidate experience.
- Employer insight through EVP refinement, DEI integration, and retention framework development.
- Analytics and feedback loops that enable us to deliver clear KPIs and market insights to facilitate continuous improvement.
For guidance on recruiting for finance roles, get in touch with us today
Our team stands ready to guide you through the challenges posed by recruitment today. Let’s partner to transform your approach from simply filling roles to building winning teams. Contact us today to learn more.
