[EMEA] UK and Ireland rank top as Europe’s most cost-efficient talent hubs

New research has revealed that the UK and Ireland offer some of the most competitive employment cost structures in Europe, particularly for companies seeking to access Europe’s skilled talent without incurring the high overheads seen elsewhere on the continent, Irish Tech News reports.

The annual report from global employment and payroll platform Boundless 2025 covers 36 European countries, including both EU and non-EU nations.

It reportedly provides a comprehensive overview, analysing employment costs, net pay, and cost efficiency across diverse economies. The report looks at what employers actually pay beyond gross salary, what employees take home after tax, and how efficiently an employer’s spend translates into net pay across three salary levels (€32k, €60k and €150k).

Dee Coakley - Boundless CEO and cofounder - said, “Too often, companies fixate on gross salary without understanding the true cost of employment or what their people actually take home. This report is a wake-up call - smart hiring means looking beneath the surface. In today’s global talent market, knowing where your money goes is a strategic advantage.”

Boundless found that the UK and Ireland offer rare cost-to-talent efficiency, with the UK (€66,643) and Ireland (€66,690) combining low employer contributions with high net pay (€46,245 and €43,420, respectively).

“This dual efficiency presents a rare opportunity: attract top-tier talent while maintaining lean operational budgets,” Ms Coakley said.

According to the report, France and Italy are the priciest places to hire in Europe, with employment costs reaching €95,303 and €88,326, and cost-to-net pay ratios above 2.4; these markets are reportedly expensive at all salary levels.

“For every euro an employee takes home in France or Italy, employers spend more than €2.40 – the highest ratios in our study,” Ms Coakley said.

Source: Irish Tech News

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

New research has revealed that the UK and Ireland offer some of the most competitive employment cost structures in Europe, particularly for companies seeking to access Europe’s skilled talent without incurring the high overheads seen elsewhere on the continent, Irish Tech News reports.

The annual report from global employment and payroll platform Boundless 2025 covers 36 European countries, including both EU and non-EU nations.

It reportedly provides a comprehensive overview, analysing employment costs, net pay, and cost efficiency across diverse economies. The report looks at what employers actually pay beyond gross salary, what employees take home after tax, and how efficiently an employer’s spend translates into net pay across three salary levels (€32k, €60k and €150k).

Dee Coakley - Boundless CEO and cofounder - said, “Too often, companies fixate on gross salary without understanding the true cost of employment or what their people actually take home. This report is a wake-up call - smart hiring means looking beneath the surface. In today’s global talent market, knowing where your money goes is a strategic advantage.”

Boundless found that the UK and Ireland offer rare cost-to-talent efficiency, with the UK (€66,643) and Ireland (€66,690) combining low employer contributions with high net pay (€46,245 and €43,420, respectively).

“This dual efficiency presents a rare opportunity: attract top-tier talent while maintaining lean operational budgets,” Ms Coakley said.

According to the report, France and Italy are the priciest places to hire in Europe, with employment costs reaching €95,303 and €88,326, and cost-to-net pay ratios above 2.4; these markets are reportedly expensive at all salary levels.

“For every euro an employee takes home in France or Italy, employers spend more than €2.40 – the highest ratios in our study,” Ms Coakley said.

Source: Irish Tech News

(Link and quotes via original reporting)