Salary rates stabilised across most professional sectors in 2010, according to a new study published by recruitment group Hays. This follows a drop of up to 30 per cent in salary levels in 2009. Increases of up to 20 per cent were evident for some positions where candidates were in short supply.

“It’s great to not only see salary rates a lot steadier, but increases starting to emerge,” said Richard Eardley, managing director of Hays in Ireland. “This is generally being reflected in the level of hiring going on as well.

Accountants with more than one language saw potential salaries rise by as much as 15 per cent last year.