As Irish organisations head into 2026, HR leaders are facing a complex mix of challenges - from attracting and retaining talent in an increasingly competitive market, to navigating cost pressures, culture change, and new regulatory demands like the EU Pay Transparency Directive. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of optimism across the profession, with many organisations investing in leadership development, coaching and capability-building for the future.
In this episode of The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Mary are joined by Liam Barton, (Commercial Director – Insight HR), to unpack the key findings from Insight HR’s brand new report, Ireland’s HR Landscape 2026. They explore what’s really keeping HR leaders awake at night and where the biggest opportunities lie in the year ahead.
They discuss why talent attraction and retention remains the number one challenge across every sector, how employee engagement and culture are evolving in a post-pandemic workplace, and why AI, hybrid working and skills-based workforce planning are set to reshape HR practice in Ireland.
• Mary Cullen – Founder & Managing Director, Insight HR
• Liam Barton – Commercial Director, Insight HR
Topics include:
• The biggest HR challenges facing Irish businesses in 2026 — and why talent attraction and retention tops the list
• How recruitment and retention pressures differ by company size, sector and HR team structure
• Why not-for-profits and large enterprises feel the talent squeeze most acutely
• The growing challenge of employee engagement, culture change and rising workplace expectations
• Cost pressures, tightening budgets and their impact on HR priorities
• Confidence levels across HR teams - why most feel cautiously optimistic about 2026
• How prepared Irish organisations really are for the EU Pay Transparency Directive
• Where businesses plan to invest in learning and development -from management training to coaching and mentoring
• The rise of skills-based workforce planning and internal mobility models
• AI in HR: opportunities, risks and the growing debate around recruitment technology
• The ongoing tension between return-to-office policies and remote working expectations
• Key predictions for HR in 2026 — from pay transparency to auto-enrolment and workforce diversity
Useful Links & Resources
• Ireland’s HR Landscape 2026 – Insight HR Report
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The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today.
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