Tag: rise

Workers in the data and analytics industry are optimistic of pay rises and job stability into 2025

A recent study of data analytics and AI workers in Ireland has revealed a positive outlook for salary growth with 63% expecting to see a salary increase of up to 10% this year. Workers in the data and analytics industry are optimistic of pay rises and job stability into 2025

The survey by the Analytics Institute and leader in data and AI, SAS, also reflects optimism around hiring as 37% of organisations in Ireland confirmed their intention to increase their data workforce by more than 10% this year. Job stability looks positive too, with 81% of employees intending to stay with their current employer in 2025.

Respondents revealed that job satisfaction remains high with nearly three-quarters of workers saying they would recommend their employer to a friend, while 39% said they enjoy their current role “a lot” and 50% said they enjoy it “a moderate amount”.

The findings have been revealed in the Data Salaries and Job Sentiment Analysis 2025 report, which surveyed 200 professional Analytics Institute members working in data analytics and AI roles. It highlights the latest trends shaping the data sector from salary expectations and job opportunities to employee sentiment and training requirements.

Alan McGlinn, Ireland Country Lead at SAS, said: “These findings prove that demand for AI and data-related skills remains high, and this is reflected in salary levels, increases and rising optimism about wage growth in 2025.

“While employees with these skills are in demand, those with the right combination of skills will be in particularly high demand. The findings reveal that those who changed employer within the last 12 months received significantly higher salary increases, and we might start to see more rapid career progression for some individuals and higher staff turnover.”

Data visualisation and BI reporting were revealed as critical skills to the sector, with 70% of people still believing them to be important, along with project management. Meanwhile, the report showed statistical modelling and prescriptive analytics as declining skills areas due to reduced demand for traditional predictive approaches. Not surprisingly machine learning and AI has gained consistent importance, growing from 30% in 2023 to 34% in 2025.

Lorcan Malone, Chief Executive of The Analytics Institute, said this sheds light on the key drivers for talent retention and workforce upskilling within the data analytics and AI sectors.

He added: “By understanding these dynamics, businesses can better position themselves to attract, develop, and retain the talent they need to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

“The rapid expansion of AI technologies is beginning to reshape the world of work. As companies seek to leverage these technologies, they must ensure their teams are not only equipped with the latest technical skills but also able to adapt to a constantly changing landscape. This makes investing in talent development and upskilling initiatives more critical than ever.”

While employees with these skills are in demand, those with the right combination of skills will be in particularly high demand. For those who had changed jobs within the last 12 months, the top reasons employees gave for this were:

●      Increased salary (67%)

●      For a more interesting and challenging role (32%)

●      For increased remuneration (21%)

●      For better working conditions / culture (14%)

For those who hadn’t changed employers in the last 12 months, a high proportion had still received a salary increase, but beyond this, other important factors for jobs satisfaction they highlighted included:

●      Meaningful work (64%)

●      Supportive boss (48%)

●      Hybrid work (43%)

●      Career progression (32%)

●      Nice colleagues (30%)

Overall, the report proves that as businesses increasingly rely on data -driven insights to make critical decisions, the demand for professionals with key skills remains high. Organisations that understand the incremental gains that employees with these core skills can deliver across their business, are willing to reward the best performers with significantly higher salaries and the added support to do their jobs well.

To find out more about how SAS can help businesses to work smarter with data and AI visit www.sas.com.

The full report can be found here – analyticsinstitute.org/resource/salaries-and-sentiment-analysis-2025.html

Rise of the robots’ must ensure an integral role for human beings in the Irish co-operative agrifood sector of the future

A vision for a technologically and digitally enabled future for the Irish co-operative agrifood sector, with the skills of human beings remaining integrally engaged, was presented today at the final conference of the LeadFarm 5.0 project, held in Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

The conference was opened by the Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD. The initiative started in May 2022 spearheaded by ICOS Skillnet in collaboration with Léargas and supported by the EU Erasmus+ programme.

In the future, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and big data will be integrated into all aspects of daily life. This integration aims to solve social challenges, improve quality of life and enhance the success of enterprises.

The LeadFarm project focused on developing a competency framework and roadmap for Irish agrifood co-operatives to transition the skills of their people towards ‘Society 5.0’ or the ‘super-intelligent society’. It has been a collaborative effort involving a broad and diverse range of co-operatives including management, farmers and workers from Ireland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Latvia and Portugal.

A training curriculum emerging from the project emphasises human skills acquisition in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability, management and entrepreneurship while highlighting the potential to balance digital advancements with human-robot collaboration. The approach aims to improve employment opportunities and skills in rural Ireland, creating a sustainable future for the industry.

Minister Niall Collins TD said:

“I congratulate the ICOS Skillnet for taking proactive steps to clarify the competencies required for the adoption of digital innovation by agri-food cooperatives. Initiatives like this ensure that Ireland shapes its future rather than simply respond to technological change ”.

ICOS President Edward Carr said:

“The purpose of this conference is to disseminate the outcomes of the LeadFarm 5.0 project to as many stakeholders as possible. It outlines the good work carried out by this pan-European initiative and showcases the benefits to co-operatives and farmers across Europe.

“ICOS is the lead partner in this project. This is with the specific aim to support various stakeholders including co-operatives, social enterprises, boards of directors, farmers, trainers, and educators, with a particular focus on those at risk of exclusion such as youth and women.

“The concept is about ensuring the long-term sustainability of the industry through skill and talent development. We are focused on creating a more digitally aware society that will be human-centred and will take advantage of technology to tackle problems that affect the whole of society as well as our own industry.

“The agri-food co-operative sector must participate, join this trend, and support the creation of a society which is aware and committed to the problems it faces, avoiding becoming a sector that remains a trace of the technological past.”

International collaboration and engagement of the lead partners from seven countries has fostered international collaboration and the exchange of best practices. All intellectual outputs have been secured for practical application within Ireland, ensuring the Irish agrifood sector can be aware and prepared for significant technological advancements.

Minister Niall Collins acknowledged the importance of the project’s achievements and the promotion of future success for Irish co-operative enterprises within the framework of Society 5.0.

Future Impact

Further Background:

LeadFarm 5.0 arises from the need to improve the knowledge, capacities and skills of European agri-food co-operatives regarding the use of digital innovations that can be easily adapted to new agricultural models that will largely replace the intensive industrial farming model and that will require changes in business decision-making processes.

Agrifood co-operatives need to improve and innovate key capacities, skills and competencies for change in the fields of action for climate and AI without neglecting the most basic human values linked to co-operatives.

This needs to take into account the industry trend towards automation of production processes, in the context of AI development, the internet of things, cognitive computing, the use of cobots (collaborative robots), and promoting precision agriculture, without forgetting climate change mitigation.

Empowering the human being must be at the centre of all of this, supported by technology at the centre of production processes.

Revolut warns more than 2 million customers in Ireland following sharp rise in job scams

Revolut, the global financial app with more than 40 million customers worldwide, has directly issued a fraud warning to more than 2 million of its customers in Ireland, cautioning those looking to boost their income that job-related scams are on the rise — and advising them on how to stay ahead of these sophisticated job scams.

Amid the rising cost of living, sophisticated scammers are taking advantage, warns Revolut. According to its inaugural Financial Crime and Consumer Security Insight Report, the global financial app found that while just 1% of fraud victims in the country were subject to job scams in 2023, 15% of the total sum lost to fraud in Ireland — second only to investment scams (53%) — was caused by people falling for false job opportunities in a bid to boost their income.

This form of authorised fraud sees scammers post fake job openings either online or by reaching out directly to victims via messaging apps, posing as employers or recruiters. As part of the phoney application process, scammers either request money upfront or require personal financial information to defraud the victim. Common tactics include asking people to pay for training, administration costs, or setup fees, or to purchase required equipment, such as a laptop or a mobile phone. This poses a notable risk for those entering the job market for the first time after school or college, people struggling with the cost of living, or those looking to get back to work.

Revolut’s report also found that job scams had increased globally over the course of 2023 — the most of any type of scam. In Q1 2023, job scams represented only 1% of Revolut’s global fraud cases, as well as just 1% of the overall value of all money lost to fraud. However, by Q4 2023, these figures rose to 12% of all cases and 21% of the overall value lost to scams, increasing 1,200% and 2,100% respectively.

Based on extensive internal research and data analysis for 2023, the report aims to shed light on the growing scam and fraud industry across the globe, and provide tangible watch-outs for everyday people to help them protect themselves. Among the findings, Revolut revealed that in 2023, the company is estimated to have prevented over €550 million in fraud losses, up 130% from 2022. This was largely thanks to its proprietary fraud detection system, which deploys cutting-edge machine learning and artificial intelligence methodologies.

Woody Malouf, Head of Financial Crime at Revolut, commented: “Having harnessed data from more than 500 million transactions per month, our dedicated fraud intelligence team has observed the evolution of job opportunity scams that prey on unsuspecting job hunters. Given the cost of living and high inflation, the number of reported job scams has dramatically increased. Sadly, criminals prey on those seeking a legitimate way to better their income, particularly young and often inexperienced job seekers. Our customers’ security is of paramount importance to us so please pay heed to this warning; we work tirelessly to identify patterns and spot unusual activity, helping our customers to stay ahead of emerging scam trends.”

Revolut’s advice to stay one step ahead of scammers:

  • Observe our warnings. Our proprietary AI systems never sleep. They scan more than 10,000 transactions per minute and flag suspicious transactions in just a few seconds.

  • Stay alert. Always question things that seem too good to be true.

  • Trust your instincts. If something feels off, take a step back and investigate by doing your own research.

  • Be extra cautious. Use secure channels. Stick to trusted websites and platforms for transactions.

  • Report suspicious activity. If something seems suspicious, let Revolut know — we’re here to help 24/7, directly from the app.

To read the full Financial Crime and Consumer Security Report 2023 and learn more about Revolut’s fraud prevention efforts, visit here.

For more information, visit www.revolut.com/en-IE.

Revolut Report: April showers see travel consumer spending rise

Revolut, the global financial app with more than 40 million customers worldwide, and over 2.7 million in Ireland, has crunched the numbers on Irish consumer spending over the last month, revealing that a showery April has given Revolut customers in Ireland itchy feet — with spending on travel up nearly 10% YoY versus April 2023.

With figures adjusted for user growth, Revolut’s consumer spending analysis tracked more than 50 million card payments in April, indicating real-world spending trends by Ireland’s Revolut account holders, who spent more than €1.1 billion across a very damp month of April.

Money spent on airlines rose again by close to 4% (MoM increase) as the wet weather saw holidaymakers continue to plan overseas trips — up nearly 25% on April 2023 (YoY increase). People are spending more at the airport this year than last, rising a notable 12% (YoY increase).

Travel agencies were the beneficiaries with a small rise in spending versus the previous month (1.58% MoM increase), up 24% on a more fair weathered April 2023 (YoY increase). Similarly, spend on timeshares shot up by over 16.28% (MoM increase) as Revolut customers in Ireland looked to get away — a steady near 4.5% rise on last April (YoY increase).

Cruises also proved a popular escape, with over 15% more spent on voyages than in March (MoM increase), and more than 23% when compared with April 2023 (YoY increase). Not all were deterred by the wet weather though, with a considerable 34.5% rise in trailer park and campsite spending compared with March (MoM increase) and April 2024 (22% YoY increase).

Maurice Murphy, General Manager at Revolut Bank UAB – Ireland Branch, said: “Our continued push into the travel sector has helped make spending on holidays, short breaks, and last-minute getaways even easier for our customers in Ireland. One-click checkout with Aer Lingus, the introduction of eSIMs to avoid overseas roaming charges, and our super competitive foreign exchange rates have meant more people are trusting Revolut on their trips away. Revolut is Ireland’s preferred way to manage money on a daily basis and these strong spending figures highlight how more customers are using us as their primary bank account.”

Revolut was recently recognised by financial comparison site Bonkers.ie as ‘Ireland’s Best Consumer Business’ and ‘provider of the Best Current Account’.

For more information, visit: www.revolut.com/en-IE

The Rise of Decentralised Exchanges (DEXs): The Future of Crypto Trading

Do you know what’s quietly changing the world of cryptocurrency trading? It’s the decentralized exchanges, commonly known as DEXs. In this fast-paced world, trading digital currencies using a cryptocurrency trading bot has become a trend, and DEXs are emerging as a game-changer. But, what exactly are DEXs and why are they the future of crypto trading? Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive in to explore this fascinating world!

A Brief Introduction to Decentralised Exchanges (DEXs)

What if I told you that the future of cryptocurrency trading lies in the hands of decentralized exchanges? You may be wondering, “What’s a DEX, and how does it work?” Well, a DEX is a blockchain-based platform that allows users to trade digital assets without the need for a central authority like a bank or a traditional exchange. This means that you have more control over your assets, and you don’t have to rely on a middleman to execute your trades.

Why Are DEXs Gaining Popularity?

The rise of DEXs can be attributed to a number of factors. Let’s take a closer look at why they are becoming the preferred choice for many crypto traders.

1. Security: As DEXs are built on blockchain technology, they offer an unparalleled level of security. Since there’s no central authority holding your funds, the risk of hacks and thefts is significantly reduced.

2. Transparency: DEXs bring a new level of transparency to the world of crypto trading. Every transaction made on a decentralized exchange is recorded on the blockchain, which means that it is open for anyone to verify.

3. Censorship-resistant: Decentralized exchanges are not subject to the whims of a central authority, so they’re less likely to be censored or shut down by governments or regulatory agencies.

4. Lower fees: As there are no middlemen involved in the process, DEXs typically have lower fees than their centralized counterparts.

How Are DEXs Shaping the Future of Crypto Trading?

The rise of DEXs is already transforming the landscape of cryptocurrency trading in several ways. Here are some notable trends that we can expect to see in the near future.

Improved Liquidity

One of the biggest challenges faced by decentralized exchanges in the past was the lack of liquidity. However, this is changing with the advent of innovative solutions like automated market makers (AMMs) and liquidity pools further fueled by the concept of liquidity mining, where users are rewarded for providing and maintaining these pools. These mechanisms enable users to easily swap tokens without the need for an order book, ultimately leading to increased liquidity on DEXs.

Interoperability Between Chains

The future of crypto trading will likely see the increased interoperability between various blockchain networks. Cross-chain solutions are being developed to enable seamless transactions between different blockchains, thus allowing DEXs to cater to a wider range of cryptocurrencies.

Advanced Trading Features

As DEXs mature, we can expect to see more advanced trading features being introduced, such as margin trading, leverage, and sophisticated trading bots. These features will not only attract more users but also make DEXs more competitive with traditional exchanges.

Regulatory Compliance

With the growing prominence of DEXs, it’s likely that they will face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies. However, as these platforms evolve, they’ll likely develop tools and protocols to ensure compliance with existing regulations without sacrificing decentralization.

Conclusion

The rise of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) is undeniably shaping the future of crypto trading. Offering enhanced security, transparency, and lower fees, these platforms are quickly becoming