2into3 nonprofit Talent recruitment trend

Impact of the General Election on Nonprofit Talent Trends

Insights from our analysis of senior and executive level roles advertised roles in 2024 indicate a more measured and cautious approach to recruitment decisions during the lead up to the general election, as nonprofit organisations awaited the formation of a new government.  

The Impact of The General Election on Nonprofit Senior and Executive Recruitment in 2024

Q4 2024 Nonprofit Talent Trends 

Q4 2024 2into3 recruitment monitor

Post-election, in Q4 2024, our latest analysis of recruitment activity in the Irish nonprofit sector evidences an increase in the number of senior management opportunities being advertised versus Q4 of the previous year. Through assessment of a range of websites and job platforms, 2into3 has identified a 12% increase in senior-level management roles from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024, with the number of job postings catalogued rising from 254 to 284. 

Similarly, the number of organisations advertising roles has grown by 3%, from the previous year’s 180 in Q4, to this quarter’s 186. This suggests a positive hiring trend, with more roles being offered and more organisations participating in the job market. 

 

Activity by Subsector 

In Q4 2024, alike previous years, the trend of organisations advertising roles anonymously remained present. As 29 of the 186 organisations who advertised were anonymous, the below breakdown of roles by subsector is based on 157 known organisations. 

Activity by subsector nonprofit talent trends

Roles by Subsector 

The Environment sector experienced growth, with roles increasing by 300% (1 in Q4 2023 to 4 in Q4 2024), likely driven by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which came into effect in 2023 and mandates enhanced sustainability reporting starting in 2025 for the financial year 2024. Similarly, the Health sector continued its upward trajectory, with a steady 9% increase in roles, rising from 33 in Q4 2023 to 36 Q4 2024, signalling a persistent demand for healthcare professionals.  

The Professional and Vocational sector also saw an increase, with roles increasing by 125% (from 4 in Q4 2023 to 9 in Q4 2024). This growth indicates a rising need for specialised talent in this field. Meanwhile, the Social Services sector experienced a 39% increase, with roles rising from 75 in Q4 2023 to 104 in Q4 2024, underscoring a robust demand for professionals in this essential area.  

In contrast, the Arts, Culture, and Media sector saw a decline of 50% (6 roles in Q4 2023 to 3 in Q4 2024) and religious organisations also saw a decline of 80% (decreasing from 10 in Q4 2023 to just 2 in Q4 2024), which may suggest diminishing demand for positions in these sectors.  

These trends highlight a diverse and dynamic recruitment landscape, with growth in Environment, Health, and Social Services, while Arts, Culture & Media and Religion experienced a reduction in demand.  

 

Activity by Role Function 

Activity by Role Function nonprofit talent trends

 

The data reveals a marked increase in the need for those in Service Delivery & Operational Management positions. This skillset saw a dramatic rise from 37% of roles advertised in Q4 2023 to 58% of roles advertised in Q4 2024, signalling a clear organisational focus on improving operational efficiency and delivery.   

Interestingly, the demand for CEO/Executive Director positions halved, from 12% in Q4 2023 to 6% in Q4 2024, suggesting that there is less movement of CEOs in the sector, resulting in a more competitive landscape for recruiting individuals with this skillset.  

 

Activity by Income Type 

Excluding those where such information was not available, either because the role was posted anonymously, or the organisation does not disclose their income; noteworthy findings were made regarding the income of 145 known organisations. Of those, 46 (32%) organisations have an annual income of over €10 million, while 37 (25.5%) organisations have an annual income of less than €1 million. 

 

Observations 

In Q4 2024, the overall number of job posting has increased versus Q4 2023, with sectors such as Environment, Health, Social Services, and Professional & Vocational seeing growth, driven by rising demand for specialised talent and a focus on sustainability and healthcare. Sectors such as Arts, Culture & Media and Religion have seen a decline in activity versus Q4 2023, suggesting a potential slowdown in demand for roles within these areas.  

Overall, the nonprofit sector landscape remains dynamic, reflecting changing priorities and needs across the sector, and we are seeing signs of a positive hiring trend in 2025.  

Our Talent team record senior roles in the nonprofit sector, producing quarterly findings. If you’d like to view our previous quarterly talent trends, visit our webpage here, or to discuss these findings further, please contact Shannon Barrett, Head of Talent Services at shannon.barrett@2into3.com