The EHS Recruitment Gap in Ireland: An HR Perspective on What Needs to Change, By Amanda Mee
Recruitment in EHS across Ireland is not slowing down.
But from an HR perspective, it is becoming increasingly clear that the challenge is not volume.
It is alignment.
Across the roles we support, we are seeing strong candidates not accepting good opportunities, and organisations struggling to secure the right people, despite offering competitive packages.
That gap is where the real issue sits.
What candidates are telling us
EHS professionals today are approaching their careers differently.
They are more selective, more informed, and more focused on long-term value.
The consistent themes we are hearing:
• We want to be involved in decisions, not just implementation
• We need to see how this role progresses over time
• We do not want to move into a role that limits exposure
• Culture and leadership matter as much as salary
There is also a clear shift away from purely compliance-driven roles.
Candidates are actively looking for positions where they can influence outcomes, contribute to operational performance and develop commercially.
What organisations are experiencing
From the organisation side, the challenges are just as real.
• Difficulty finding candidates with both technical expertise and practical judgement
• Roles evolving faster than job descriptions
• Increased competition across sectors for the same talent
• Salary expectations rising, particularly at mid to senior level
• Frustration when hires are technically strong, but struggle to influence on the ground
Many organisations are still structuring roles around compliance and reporting.
But the strongest candidates are assessing something very different.
They are asking:
“Will we have impact here?”
Where the disconnect is happening
The modern EHS professional operates across three critical areas:
• Technical expertise
• Operational understanding
• Communication and influence
However, recruitment processes often still prioritise qualifications and experience alone.
This creates a mismatch.
Organisations hire for what looks right on paper.
Candidates choose roles based on what will develop them in practice.
And that is where opportunities are lost.
What candidates can do differently
From an HR perspective, the candidates who progress fastest are those who:
• Position themselves beyond compliance
• Understand the commercial impact of EHS decisions
• Seek exposure to leadership and operational environments
• Build strong communication and influencing skills
• Make intentional career moves, not reactive ones
Progression is no longer just about gaining experience.
It is about gaining the right experience.
What organisations need to rethink
For organisations, attracting and retaining high-performing EHS professionals requires a shift:
• Clearly define the impact of the role, not just the responsibilities
• Position EHS as a business-critical function
• Provide visibility, authority and access to decision-making
• Be transparent about progression and development
• Hire for judgement and influence, not just qualifications
If the environment does not allow an EHS professional to operate effectively, the right candidates will not stay.
What this means for career progression and business performance
The organisations seeing the strongest results are those where EHS is embedded into how the business operates.
Not as a function that reacts, but one that informs.
For candidates, career progression comes from:
• Exposure to real operational challenges
• The ability to influence outcomes
• Being trusted beyond compliance tasks
For organisations, achieving company goals comes from:
• Integrating EHS into strategic decision-making
• Empowering professionals to lead, not just report
• Building teams that can balance safety, performance and commercial reality
The EHS recruitment market in Ireland is not short on talent.
But it is becoming increasingly selective.
And from an HR perspective, the question both sides need to ask is simple:
Are we creating an environment where people can perform at their highest level, or one where they are simply expected to comply?
Considering your next move?
If you are thinking about progressing your career in EHS, it is worth taking a step back and assessing what the right move actually looks like for you.
Whether you are actively exploring or simply want a clearer view of the market, we are always open to a confidential conversation.
Reach out to [email protected] and we can discuss your options, your goals, and where your experience can take you next.
The EHS Recruitment Gap in Ireland: An HR Perspective on What Needs to Change
