[dropcap]A[/dropcap] total of 68 per cent of Irish working adults described themselves as successful, according to a recent LinkedIn survey.
This ranks Ireland 4th out of 16 other European nations on the success scale, although the reasons are not financial.
Respondents valued family, good friends, the opportunity to travel, and spend time on their hobbies as some of the defining factors of success.
Irish working adults also stated education, their living area and their parents’ careers as important measures.
While the study highlights the importance of non-material success held by respondents, it also explores job security felt by different age groups.
Just 15 per cent of respondents valued a six-figure salary, but this rose to 32 per cent among respondents aged 18-24. Over-55s valued health the most at 84 per cent.
“Personally I don’t think success is based on money,” said Elidyah Nuabana, a DCU undergraduate student in Business Studies.
“Amongst my friends, they’re probably looking to get a good salary. I’m looking to take a gap year and travel after finishing my studies”.
The job vacancy rate is 1.1 per cent according to the preliminary estimate for this year’s second quarter by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Ireland has one of the lowest job vacancy rates – i.e. one of the highest unsatisfied demand for labour and availability of skills in Europe – similar to those of Greece, Italy, and Poland; according to 2017 Eurostat figures.
Last year, the average annual earning for a full-time employee was €46,402, but the average cost of living topped €40,000 a year, according to CSO figures.
The highest annual earnings were in the ‘information and communications sector’ at €56,757, while the lowest belongs to the ‘accommodation and food services sector’ at €17,607.
Dr Declan Curran and Dr Ruchira Sharma, both lecturers in Economics at DCU Business School were contacted but were unavailable for comment.
Sabrine Donohoe
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