Two reports on the state of the jobs market have been published showing an increase in the number of jobs becoming available.
Morgan McKinley has reported a 10% increase in the number of professional job vacancies in the first quarter of this year compared to last.
It said the increase in a sign that positive market sentiment has carried through from the start of the year.
It noted that the IT sector remained buoyant, as "Big Data" rapidly is becoming a cornerstone of modern IT, while in the financial services sector, compliance and risk and client relationship professionals are sought after.
The company also said that qualified accountants for financial planning and analysis, commercial and cost accounting roles remain a "top priority" among hiring managers, especially within start-ups and expanding companies.
Meanwhile, the Irishjobs.ie website has reported a 2% increase in the number of jobs advertised online in the first quarter of 2014 with a 5% increase year on year.
One of the most notable features of the index is the upsurge in construction related jobs which are up around 16%.
The survey also found that jobs in tourism rose by 17%, engineering by 17%, production and manufacturing grew by 11%, accountancy and finance rose by 8% and jobs in science, pharmaceuticals and food also rose by 8%.
Commenting on the report, its author Stephen Kinsella said that the increase in hiring activity for property-related sectors may be a leading indicator that a recovery in construction is taking place.
"This will be good for employment and unemployment too. It is too soon to tell whether the trend is sustainable but we will look forward to the next report with interest. Overall, the Irish economy is in a fragile state but employment is recovering with domestic demand lagging behind it," the University of Limerick economist added.
The group also carried out a jobseeker sentiment report which pointed to a cautious attitude towards the job market, particularly among those entering the workforce for the first time.
The report found that 44% of people surveyed who are currently employed believe that the jobs market is improving. 28% do not believe the jobs market is getting better and another 28% are uncertain.
One in three of those at work said they would be confident of finding a new job quickly if they decided to change jobs, while only 22% of jobseekers surveyed believe that the jobs market is improving and almost half believe that this is not the case.
