While there has been a month-on-month decrease of 12% in the number of new professional jobs in Ireland, there are 24% more than the same point last year, according to Morgan McKinley’s Irish Employment Monitor.

However, there was also a 1% decline in the number of professionals seeking opportunities.

The survey also found that 29% of professional employers do not expect to pay year-end bonuses and 18% are not sure if bonuses will be paid.

The bonus outlook was most slightly more positive in IT and manufacturing firms than in the other two sectors surveyed, financial services and professional services.

Karen O’Flaherty, chief operations officer, Morgan McKinley, says: “A monthly decrease in the number of professional jobs is quite typical for this time of year, as many firms begin to wind down their hiring activities moving into the festive season.”

On 17 November recruiter.co.uk reported the advise of jobsite CareerCast.com that jobseekers should not assume that everything will slow down in the festive period.