Job postings for the final quarter of last year were 23% lower than the same time in 2019, according to figures published by e-recruitment platform IrishJobs.
Despite being in the grip of a third wave of Covid-19 cases, the jobs index - which analyses quarterly vacancy data - indicates that Ireland's employment market is showing positive signs of recovery.
The figures show that overall job vacancies increased by 5% in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to the previous quarter.
According to the data, the most resilient sectors include - healthcare, pharmaceutical, IT and construction. Other sectors posting vacancy growth in the final quarter of last year, despite experiencing year-on-year declines, include publishing, media and creative