Gaisce-commissioned research by the School of Business at Maynooth University highlights employers often value resilience over exam results
Irish employers say soft skills such as resilience, teamwork, communication and motivation are the qualities they most want in young recruits, but new exploratory research commissioned by Gaisce – The President’s Award from the School of Business at Maynooth University warns these skills are being overlooked by automated hiring systems.
The study presented today in Dublin at ‘Generation Change: Embracing New Horizons’, a fair chance employment conference, surveyed and interviewed employers across multiple sectors. They included technology, tourism, retail, healthcare, finance, public services, large multinationals, non-profits, and professional services.
While the exploratory research found that soft skills consistently outrank formal qualifications in importance when hiring entry-level staff, employers admitted that by not meeting candidates face-to-face they often miss out because of pre-interview screening.
Government support
Speaking at the conference Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan said:
“Last year my Department published the Building Pathways Together strategy which focuses on removing barriers to employment for people with a criminal conviction and to increase opportunities for employment.
“The aim is to provide effective interventions for those who are looking for stability and access to supports and opportunities that will help them succeed in employment post release. I would like to thank Gaisce, our partners the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service, and our many valued stakeholders for their work in this area.”
The value of Gaisce
Employers highlighted that young people who achieve a Gaisce Award develop exactly the attributes they look for, yet many recruitment systems prioritise exam results or conventional work experience.
While employers praised candidates who show initiative, drive and community involvement, many admitted they were unfamiliar with Gaisce or did not see it highlighted on applications. This gap means that valuable qualities risk being lost in the recruitment process, especially where AI screening tools dominate.
Fair chance employment
Una Doyle is Acting Director of the Probation Service. She says fair chance employment is critical to rehabilitation.
”In the Probation Service, we are guided by our core belief in people’s capacity for change. Employment can be instrumental in that transformative journey; it restores dignity, fosters responsibility, and in turn can contribute to reducing the likelihood of reoffending.“The ‘Generation Change: Embracing New Horizons’ event is vital because it celebrates how the Gaisce Award empowers young people unlocking new pathways to employment, personal growth and brighter futures. The Probation Service remains proudly committed to promoting the Gaisce Award across communities and in prisons, championing its value to employers.”
Caron McCaffrey, Director General, Irish Prison Service commented:
“The Irish Prison Service is committed to fostering rehabilitation and supporting individuals in custody to make meaningful change. Initiatives such as the Gaisce Award provide a structured opportunity for participants to build resilience, develop personal responsibility, and prepare for reintegration into society. We recognise, however, that rehabilitation must be pursued in tandem with accountability, and with full acknowledgement of the harm caused to victims and communities.Today’s research underscores the importance of fair chance employment in reducing reoffending and promoting public safety. We encourage employers to consider the potential for transformation. ‘Generation Change’ reflects our shared responsibility to uphold dignity, inclusion, and justice for all.”
Turning adversity into opportunity
The research also points to the importance of fair chance employment, where employers recognise resilience and adaptability as key strengths of candidates who have overcome adversity.
Gaisce provides a structured framework for these qualities to be demonstrated, however systemic barriers, including artificial intelligence filtering, can prevent candidates from being considered.
Avril Ryan, CEO of Gaisce, described today’s event as a call to action to employers.
“Today’s conference invites businesses and organisations to become fair chance employers. It’s a call urging them to lead with empathy and create opportunities for those ready to succeed with a second chance.”
The report calls for greater recognition of Gaisce Award achievement in the hiring process by urging employers to look for it and encourage young people to showcase the skills, qualities and learning from their Award experience in their CVs.
“We are proud to champion the potential of young people and today’s research report from the School of Business at Maynooth University illustrates the gaps and risks of defining young people by their experience of the criminal justice system. Our goal is for Gaisce Awards to be formally recognised and valued as a mark of achievement in recruitment processes.”
The research also recommends greater recognition of the Gaisce Award as an indicator of skills and experience, widening access so that disadvantaged youth are not left behind, and using digital tools such as badges to make Gaisce achievements more visible to employers and harder for automated systems to overlook.
Generation Change: Embracing New Horizons
The Generation Change: Embracing New Horizons conference took place in Indeed and explored the transformative impact of employing people with experience of the criminal justice system. The event also celebrated the role of the Gaisce Award in supporting young people in custody, to unlock new pathways to employment and personal growth.
The event was hosted by Gaisce – The President’s Award, in collaboration with the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service, with funding support from the Department of Justice through the Building Pathways Together Employment Strategy.
The conference featured guest speakers including the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan and keynote speaker Sally Eley, Head of CIPT Trust (UK).
Panellists on the day included Caron McCaffrey, Director General of the Irish Prison Service; Una Doyle, Acting Director of the Probation Service; and Richard Good from The Turnaround Project, along with employers, people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and representatives from organisations who are active in the criminal justice space, including Damien Quinn of Spéire Nua, Edel McSorley and Richard Donovan from Mr. Price; Ruth Anne Barry; Anthony Breen from the Irish Red Cross and Caroline Jones of Solas.
Entrepreneur, broadcaster and Chair of the Gaisce Council Áine Kerr and speaker, mentor and lived experience leader Sean Kinsella acted as MCs for the event.
Research report
The report, Gaisce – The President’s Award and Employability examined how employers perceive Gaisce and its role in supporting youth employability in Ireland. It was conducted by the School of Business at Maynooth University. It is available to download here.