Leadership competing with salary in attracting top talent, research finds

The Great Leadership Shift: Why Culture and Flexibility Are Now More Valuable Than Salary in Ireland’s Evolving Job Market

In a seismic shift that’s sending ripples through boardrooms and HR departments across Ireland, a groundbreaking new report from Dublin-based recruitment giant CPL has revealed that high-quality leadership and workplace culture are now nearly as coveted as salary by today’s professionals. This revelation comes as part of CPL’s Salary Guide for Ireland 2026, a comprehensive study that surveyed over 1,600 professionals from diverse age groups and industries, painting a vivid picture of what truly motivates the modern workforce.

For decades, salary has reigned supreme as the ultimate deciding factor for job seekers. But CPL’s findings suggest that the tide is turning. While 35% of employees still prioritize compensation and benefits, a striking 24% now place leadership and culture at the top of their list when choosing an employer. This isn’t just a minor blip on the radar—it’s a fundamental transformation in how professionals evaluate their careers.

The Leadership and Culture Revolution

So, what exactly are employees looking for when they say “leadership and culture”? CPL’s research breaks it down into three critical components: culture, values, and ethics (27%), work environment (25%), and leadership behaviors (24%). In other words, it’s not just about the paycheck—it’s about feeling valued, respected, and aligned with the company’s mission.

“CPL’s findings reinforce that leadership quality remains a critical driver of employee attrition,” the report states. In an era where talent wars are fiercer than ever, companies that fail to invest in strong, ethical leadership risk losing their best people to competitors who get it right.

The Rise of Flexibility: From Perk to Priority

If leadership and culture are the new gold standard, flexibility is the platinum tier. CPL’s research found that flexible working has evolved from a nice-to-have perk to a non-negotiable component of employee packages. After financial remuneration, flexibility ranked as the second most important benefit at 26%.

The numbers are staggering: 70% of participating employees now utilize some form of flexible working. And here’s the kicker—previous studies indicate that one in four candidates would not even consider a job opportunity if it lacked the option for flexible work. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a revolution.

Work-Life Balance: The Silent Game-Changer

While salary still holds the crown, work-life balance is quickly becoming the queen. A whopping 40% of professionals said it was an experience priority, with 21% noting that meaningful and stimulating work contributes to their overall happiness. CPL’s report emphasizes that while work-life balance hasn’t yet surpassed compensation in importance, “when considered alongside flexible working, it represents a core pillar of any successful talent strategy.”

The Workforce Evolution: From Employees to Entrepreneurs

But the story doesn’t end there. CPL’s research also points to a broader “workforce evolution” driven by the rise of limited companies. In Ireland, a country that saw near-record limited company incorporations in 2025, growth and hiring are stalling. Instead, many experienced professionals are opting to establish their own businesses, offering specialist services across technology, life sciences, and financial services.

“This trend signals a structural shift toward self-employment, fractional leadership, and contingent workforce models,” the report notes. For organizations, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: access to critical expertise with greater cost and workforce flexibility.

Stability, Growth, and Purpose: The New Trinity

Beyond leadership, culture, and flexibility, professionals are also prioritizing organizational stability and additional career pathways. Stability and growth ranked as an important factor for 34% of contributing employees, followed by organizational structure at 22%, and mission and purpose at 17%.

Interestingly, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability ranked low, at just 5%, suggesting that organizations must strengthen their positioning as net-benefit entities to truly resonate with today’s workforce.

The Future of Work: A Holistic Approach

Looking ahead, CPL’s report finds that Ireland’s 2026 talent market will continue to reward organizations that adopt a holistic, long-term approach to the employee experience. “While not every organization can compete on salary alone, those balancing compensation and benefits, career development, innovation, flexible working, and upskilling are best positioned to attract and retain top talent,” the report concludes.

Commenting on the findings, Lorna Conn, CEO of CPL, said: “Ireland’s labour market is undergoing a period of dynamic evolution. While economic and technological pressures continue to reshape how organizations operate, one fundamental truth persists: talent is the key differentiator for growth.”

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