47
Average Age
Contractor Profile
“What I find most fulfilling about working independently is the ability to take ownership of my tasks and manage my time effectively. It allows me to focus deeply, be proactive in solving problems, and deliver results without unnecessary interruptions. I enjoy the sense of responsibility, autonomy, and personal accountability that independent work provides, as it helps me stay motivated and continuously improve my skills.”
Quote from Respondent
Independent contractors typically engage in two main types of work: gig/task-based work and project-based work.
Ireland’s Project Economy describes highly skilled independent professionals who actively choose self-employment and operate across a wide range of industries. In 2026, concentration remains strongest in Pharma, ICT, Finance, Engineering, and Medical Locum sectors, reflecting continued demand for specialist expertise in these sectors. Most respondents are engaged in project-based work, with 78% working on fixed term projects for agreed daily rates, 12% work in gig/task roles, and 10% are working in hybrid models that blend both approaches.
Independent professionals remain highly educated with 96% of respondents having attained third level qualifications of level 6 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications. Ninety-one per cent of respondents are in managerial, professional, high-tech and associated professional occupations, or categorised as Standard Occupational Classifications (SOCs) 1-3 highlighting the knowledge-intensive nature of the work. The average age of professionals in the Project Economy is 47 years, which reflects the time required to build experience, knowledge and valuable specialist skills.
Age
The 2026 age profile points to a stable yet ageing contractor base, with minimal changes across some of the key age segments. As usual 10% or less of respondents are 29 years old and younger, with roughly three quarters of independent contractors being aged 30 to 59 with a significant cohort (17% in 2026) being 60 years old and over. This pattern continues to reflect a sector where experience matters.
Additional Information
The mean age increased from 45 years in 2025 to 47 years in 2026. The median moved from 45 years to 47 years. The oldest respondent was 84 years, while the youngest was 18 years old. The average age of 47 years reflects the fact that it takes time to build up the knowledge and experience required to work independently however, the wide range of ages of respondents shows that contracting can be a viable career choice regardless of age.
84
Oldest Age
18
Youngest Age
Gender Split
The 2026 data confirms that men continue to dominate the independent working space. In 2026, 72% of respondents are male, unchanged from 2025 but roughly three percentage points down from the earlier in the 2020s. Overall, the data highlights a persistent gender imbalance in professional contracting. While there are signs of incremental rebalancing, the pace of change remains slow, and mirrors skewed gender patterns in the entrepreneurial economy more generally.
Additional Information
Where The Work Happens
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Antrim | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.30% | 0.80% |
| Carlow | 0.80% | 1.40% | 0.90% | 0.30% |
| Cavan | 0.20% | 0.10% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Clare | 0.30% | 0.60% | 0.10% | 1.10% |
| Cork | 18.90% | 19.60% | 18.30% | 16.90% |
| Donegal | 0.40% | 0.10% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dublin | 58.90% | 53.40% | 59.70% | 61.80% |
| Galway | 2.50% | 3.40% | 2.50% | 3.00% |
| Kerry | 0.50% | 0.50% | 0.70% | 0.60% |
| Kildare | 2.70% | 4.30% | 3.30% | 2.40% |
| Kilkenny | 0.80% | 0.60% | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Laois | 0.40% | 0.30% | 0.10% | 0.30% |
| Limerick | 4.60% | 4.50% | 4.50% | 3.70% |
| Louth | 0.20% | 0.50% | 0.90% | 0.30% |
| Mayo | 0.90% | 1.40% | 0.40% | 0.30% |
| Meath | 0.90% | 1.00% | 0.80% | 0.60% |
| Monaghan | 0.20% | 0.30% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Offaly | 0.00% | 0.30% | 0.10% | 0.30% |
| Roscommon | 0.30% | 0.60% | 0.10% | 0.20% |
| Sligo | 0.90% | 0.60% | 0.40% | 1.00% |
| Tipperary | 2.2% | 2.60% | 1.50% | 1.30% |
| Waterford | 1.2% | 1.60% | 1.70% | 1.60% |
| Westmeath | 0.7% | 1.20% | 0.80% | 1.00% |
| Wexford | 1% | 0.50% | 0.90% | 1.10% |
| Wicklow | 0.20% | 0.40% | 0.50% | 0.80% |
Where the Work Happens
Work in 2026 remains highly concentrated in urban centres. Dublin continues to dominate, accounting for 58.9% of where work happens. Cork follows at 18.9%. Together, Dublin and Cork represent almost 78% of all work activity. Outside these hubs, activity is more dispersed. Limerick accounts for 4.6%, Kildare 2.7%, Galway 2.5%, and Tipperary 2.2%. All other counties individually account for 1.2% or less. The overall pattern is clear, high value contracting work continues to cluster where large employers, infrastructure, and international firms are based.
2026 shows 90% of respondents are working for clients in the Republic of Ireland. This is down slightly from 93% in 2025, but above 2024 and 2023 levels perhaps indicating reversion to a long-term mean. Work linked to the UK remains stable at 2%. Engagement with the rest of the EU increased to 4% in 2026, up from 2% in 2025. Work for clients outside the EU also increased to 4%, reversing the decline seen last year.
The 2026 data confirm, a contracting market that is firmly rooted in Ireland, with modest re-expansion into international markets after a dip in 2025.
Additional Information
Education Profile
Independent professionals remain highly educated with 96% of respondents having attained third level qualifications of level 6 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications. In 2026, 77% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, up from 75% in 2025. Master’s degree holders increased from 36% to 39% perhaps indicating a reversion to the mean levels experienced earlier in the 2020s. Over time, the pattern is clear: degree-level education dominates.
Additional Information
Client Industry
Contractors in 2026 continue to operate across diverse industries, with the largest concentrations in Pharma, ICT, Engineering and Finance. Most (81%) work in the private and public sector participation remains steady at 13%, while charitable and not-for-profit work continues to account for a small share of activity.
In 2026, 76% of contractors work with one client at a time, up from 73% in 2025 and 70% in 2024. Meanwhile, 24% maintain multiple clients, showing that portfolio working remains relevant for a significant minority.
Additional Information
My Office Is
In 2026, respondents show a well‑established hybrid working pattern. Home remains the primary location, averaging 3 days per week. Time spent on client sites averages 3 days. Other locations, including shared offices, account for less than 2 days per week combined, indicating a preference for a simple two‑location model: home and client site. Overall, the data points to a stable hybrid approach rather than a full return to office or fully remote model.
Additional Information
Industry Sector
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Public sector | 16% | 16% | 17% | 16% |
| Private sector | 79% | 77% | 77% | 80% |
| Charitable/Not for profit | 3% | 5% | 4% | 2% |
| Other | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Productivity
Contractors were asked an open question about how does the location of work affect your productivity?
Contractors reported that productivity is strongly influenced by work location, but no single setting suits all tasks. Working from home consistently supports deep, focused work such as writing, analysis, coding and planning. Fewer interruptions, a quieter environment and the removal of commuting fatigue allows people to concentrate for longer and produce more. However, home working can blur boundaries, often leading to longer hours and potential burnout if not managed carefully. Some also struggle with distractions or lack of structure at home.
The Office
The office, by contrast, is less effective for individual focus but far better for collaboration. Face-to-face interaction enables faster decisions, informal problem solving, stronger relationships and more efficient communication. Open-plan layouts and constant interruptions can reduce time for concentrated work, but the office remains valuable for teamwork, onboarding, mentoring and complex discussions.
A Hybrid Approach
Most respondents favour a hybrid approach (this is supported by the quantitative data) where location matches the task. Focused work is done at home. Collaborative work is done in the office. Certain roles, such as healthcare, engineering and site-based work, depend on physical presence and see less benefit from flexibility. A small group report that location makes little difference due to experience and self-discipline. Overall, flexibility aligned to task type is seen as the most productive model.
Contracting as a Career
In 2026, contracting remains largely a deliberate and positive choice, with 79% of respondents choosing to contract voluntarily, with just 21% doing so involuntarily. Over half 53% actively secure their own work, similar to previous years. A further 24% rely mainly on third parties, and 15% use a blended approach, combining personal effort with agency support.
In finding contracts, 42% said they used their personal network and referrals to find new work. 40% rely solely on third parties (such as contract recruiters). 31% found new work via social media, e.g. LinkedIn and Indeed. 14% reported using online job platforms such as Upwork etc.
Additional Information
Days To Find New Contract
Respondents are exerting more effort to find work with average days looking for work increasing from 12 to 14 since last year. The share of respondents securing work within 0–7 days fell, from 29% to 27%. Short search periods of up to two weeks also declined. At the same time, the proportion taking more than 28 days to find a new contract increased from 26% to 29%. The middle ranges remain stable, indicating that most contractors still secure work within one month. While the number of days searching for work has ratcheted up since 2023 it is still less than the time exerted earlier in the 2020s.
Additional Information
Contract Lengths
Contract lengths in 2026 remain similar to 2025. Half of all respondents report contracts lasting 7–12 months, unchanged year on year and reinforcing this as common practice. Shorter contracts under three months remain limited, although 1–3 month contracts increased from 6% in 2025 to 9% in 2026.
Longer contracts show some softening in 2026. Contracts of 13–24 months declined from 18% to 13%, while those of 24 months or more remained stable at 8%. Looking across 2021 to 2026, the overall pattern is consistent. The average contract length remains close to 14 months, pointing to a contracting market that favours medium length assignments.
Additional Information
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