A major new report from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has sent a shockwave through the Irish business world. According to a poll of nearly 2,000 employees, more than half of the workforce in Ireland believes they are being “short-changed.” The data shows that 52% of workers feel their current wages do not reflect the skills they have or the hard work they do every day.
The Power Struggle at Work
The survey, conducted by IrelandThinks, reveals a deeper problem than just low pay: a total lack of bargaining power. Seven out of ten workers (68%) said they do not feel they have the same level of influence as their employer when negotiating their salary or working conditions. Even more worrying is that only 24%—less than one in four people—feel they can talk to their bosses on an “equal footing.”
Who is Suffering the Most?
The “pay gap” isn’t just about money; it’s about demographics. The report highlights that women are much more likely to feel ignored in the workplace. While 60% of men feel they have a meaningful say in their jobs, less than half of women (48%) feel the same.
Young workers are also facing a “crisis of confidence.” For those aged 18 to 34, only 17% believe they have any real power to negotiate their terms. This suggests that the next generation of the Irish workforce feels trapped in “take it or leave it” contracts, despite being more educated than previous generations.
The Cost of Living Context
The frustration comes at a time of high economic pressure. Although the Irish economy is technically at “full employment,” the cost of living has skyrocketed. ICTU notes that over the last four years, inflation has eaten away nearly 19% of the average household’s purchasing power.
On January 1, 2026, the national minimum wage rose to €14.15 per hour. However, the ICTU has criticized the government for failing to reach the “Living Wage” target (which would have been roughly €14.45). This 30-cent difference might seem small to some, but for low-paid workers, it means losing out on roughly €600 per year.
What is the Solution?
The ICTU is using this report to launch its “Good Jobs” campaign. They are calling on Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s government to introduce a legal “right to collective bargaining.” This would mean that if a group of workers wants to use a trade union to negotiate their pay, the employer would be legally forced to talk to them.
Owen Reidy, the General Secretary of ICTU, stated, “Irish workers are being short-changed—and they know it. While big businesses get tax cuts, ordinary people are struggling to keep up. We need structural changes to make sure that a ‘good job’ actually pays enough to live on.”
