Contractors shared their views on how various local and global socioeconomic factors affect their contract work, they were asked to indicate whether these factors impacts were positive, negative, or neutral. In 2025 the majority 84% of respondents believe that greater recognition of contractors as an important part of the workforce would positively affect their contract work, along with 86% who believe that changes to tax policy relating to the claiming of travel expenses would also have a positive impact. Almost half 48% of all respondents believe that the Trump presidency will have a negative impact on their contact work, while 57% believe that Irish government pressuring companies to transfer contractors/ freelancers to employee status will affect their contract work negatively. Contractors remain positive about collaboration with others with 68% believing that collaboration has a positive impact on their contract work, and 85% agree competition from other contractors has a neutral or positive effect.
Contractors were asked how they perceive the treatment of self-employed workers compared to employees by the Government, client companies, and on-site employees. The results show that 43% of contractors believe the self-employed are treated worse than employees by Revenue, and over half of the respondents 51% feel they are treated worse by the Government. In contrast, 65% of contractors believe client companies treat self-employed workers the same or better than employees, and 70% feel they are treated equal or better by employees on-site.
Contractors were asked about the benefits client companies gain from engaging their services. Of those surveyed, 81% agreed they provide new skill sets, 78% believed they make companies more agile, and 70% said they help complete projects faster. 69% felt that companies benefited from the ability to address headcount challenges. 64% said the benefits included upskilling employees and knowledge transfer, 56% said cost savings, 55% agreed the benefits included process innovation, with 42% saying companies benefited from product innovation as a result of engaging contractors. Other reported benefits include contractors bringing fresh perspectives, new energy, and unbiased insights that enhance decision-making, as well as providing greater access to a global talent pool. It’s easy to understand why more companies are engaging with contractors, the benefits they bring are valuable and help companies to adapt quickly to changing demands.
This year’s survey aimed to identify the most commonly used AI tools among independent professionals, uncover what the main use cases for these tools, and gain understanding as to how independent professionals see AI enhancing human work. It also explored which specific human skills independent professionals consider essential for effectively complementing AI.
ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot dominate AI tool usage among independent professionals. Tools like Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity are gaining traction, indicating diverse preferences for generative AI. Niche tools are selectively used for specialised functions, while some respondents reported avoiding AI due to industry restrictions or expressed a perceived lack of necessity to use AI tools. Other respondents reported being in the early stages of AI adoption or planning future implementation.
The top 10 areas where independent professionals use AI tools covers a wide range of functions, though usage frequency varies. AI is most commonly used for content creation, research, and communication. There is moderate use for technical tasks like coding and data analysis, while use for creative and design-related tasks is less common. Although administrative support is reported less frequently, it is emerging as a growing area for AI adoption.
| 1 | Content Creation and Editing | 6 | Data Analysis and Reporting |
| 2 | Research and Information Gathering | 7 | Creative Design and Media Production |
| 3 | Project Management and Planning | 8 | Learning and Upskilling |
| 4 | Technical Support and Coding | 9 | Administrative Support |
| 5 | Communication and Collaboration | 10 | Idea Generation and Brainstorming |
| 1 | Chat GPT (Open AI) | 6 | Midjourney |
| 2 | Microsoft CoPilot (Including GitHub) | 7 | Bing Co-Pilot |
| 3 | Google Gemini | 8 | Automation (Apple AI, AWS, HubSpot AI) |
| 4 | Claude (Anthropic) | 9 | Otter.ai |
| 5 | Perplexity AI | 10 | InVideo AI |
Respondents were asked their opinion on what specific human skills they felt were essential to complement AI effectively. The responses highlight that while independent professionals agree that AI significantly enhances human work by automating repetitive tasks, increasing efficiency, and providing quick access to information, it cannot replace human creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. To maximise the benefits of AI, respondents believe that humans must develop skills in problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and ethical decision-making. Success in integrating AI effectively depends on understanding its limitations, crafting precise prompts, and applying human judgment to validate and refine AI-generated outcomes.
Contractors are generally at the forefront of innovation and transformative projects so their insights into technical skills that they intend to acquire should indicate which future skills will be valued and sought after by industry. The list of technical skills that contractors have said they intend to acquire in the next 12 months show that AI and automation, project management, and cloud computing are the leading areas of upskilling interest. Skills in data analytics, software development, and cybersecurity continue to be recognised as valuable. Upskilling in engineering, digital marketing, and business management highlights that independent professionals focus on enhancing both their technical expertise and their strategic leadership capabilities.
When asked about which human skills they intend to upskill in over the next 12 months, they report leadership and management as the top priority for development. This is closely followed by a growing interest in coaching and mentoring to enhance team performance and personal growth. Communication skills and creative thinking are also widely recognised as essential for fostering innovation and effective collaboration. Others reported their intention to strengthen their emotional intelligence through counselling and psychotherapy training.
Respondents were asked about any other areas they intend to upskill in over the next 12 months. The most frequently reported areas for upskilling fall into leadership and management, technology and digital skills, followed by industry-specific qualifications. Entrepreneurial ambitions and creative pursuits also feature, the range of answers provided reflects the fact that independent professionals have a diverse approach to career and personal development.
The most common financial goals expressed by independent professionals is saving for retirement, followed by saving to buy a home, paying off debt and building an investment fund. 4% of respondents said their goals included saving for an event, with a further 4% saving for education and college fees.
Other financial goals reported include; paying off mortgages, saving for travel and home improvements, retirement planning, supporting family needs, especially children’s education. A smaller portion of respondents had financial goals relating to career growth, creating financial freedom, contributing to charity, and creating passive income streams, while some are just focused on basic survival due to rising living costs. However, a few respondents expressed having no specific financial goals.
73% of contractors intend to fund their retirement using a private pension, while 33% will use the state pension. Other reported strategies for funding retirement among respondents is through shares, stocks, and equity investments. This is closely followed by investment funds and diversified portfolios. Traditional methods like savings also remain significant. Emerging strategies include cryptocurrency investments and property ownership. Some respondents plan to continue working part-time or rely on private funds and business ownership, while a few mention inheritance or express plans to invest in the future after clearing debts.
88% of independent contractors expect the availability of contract work over the next 12 months to stay the same or increase, 96% expect their daily rate to increase or stay the same and 91% of respondents expect their working days for the next 12 months to remain the same or increase. 46% expect the economy in 2025 to outperform the economy in 2024, with 37% expecting it to perform about the same. The longer term outlook for the contracting sector is also very positive with 88% of respondents expecting it to remain the same or increase in the next 3 to 5 years.
Throughout this report, you will see references to the ‘Confidence Index’. This index measures participants’ confidence across several areas based on their responses to multiple key questions. These questions were similar in nature but presented in different ways to ensure accuracy. The average of these responses is used to calculate the Confidence Index. A score of zero reflects a completely neutral outlook. A positive score (up to a maximum of 100) indicates a positive outlook, while a negative score signals unfavourable or pessimistic views about the economic or business future.
When asked about the performance of the Irish economy in 2025, 46% (47% in 2024) of contractors believed it would increase compared to 2024; 37% (34% in 2024) believed that it would stay the same and 17% (19% in 2024) believed it would decrease. The confidence index was +17 up slightly on the confidence index of +16 reported in 2024.
When specifically asked about the performance of the contracting sector in Ireland in 2025, More than half 55% of contractors believed the contracting sector would increase, slightly less than the 61% who believed the sector would increase in 2024. 33% (28% in 2024) believed it would stay the same and 12% (11% in 2024) thought that it would decrease. The confidence index was +26 down slightly on the 2024 index reported of +30.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| The Contracting Sector | +26 | +30 | +31 | +37 | +30 |
| Performance of The Irish Economy | +17 | +16 | +10 | +38 | +7 |
