More Than a Third of Irish Workers Didn’t Use All Their Annual Leave in 2024, New Report Finds
Over one-third of Irish workers failed to take full advantage of their annual leave entitlements in 2024, according to the 2025 Annual Leave Report published by FRS Recruitment. While this marks a notable improvement from the previous year’s figure of 42%, it still highlights a significant portion of the workforce missing out on valuable time off.
The report, based on a survey of almost 2,000 workers in Ireland, revealed that almost one in four people (25%) did not take at least five days of annual leave—equivalent to a full working week. This finding underscores ongoing challenges in achieving a healthy work-life balance despite growing awareness of its importance.
Gender disparities in leave usage were also evident. The survey found that over 40% of male respondents left holidays unused, compared to 31% of women. This suggests that men are more likely to forgo their entitled time off, potentially due to work pressures or cultural factors around taking leave.
When Irish workers did take time off, most used it to travel abroad, with almost two-thirds of respondents indicating they used annual leave for foreign travel in 2024. This marks an 18% increase from the previous year, suggesting a strong rebound in international travel among the workforce.
In addition to travel, 46% of people used leave for family reasons, up significantly from 15% in the prior year. A further 35% cited personal reasons, and 9% used annual leave due to illness, illustrating the growing diversity in how employees are using their time off.
The report also notes changes in employer policies surrounding unused leave. Fewer employers opted to offer payment in lieu of unused annual leave, and fewer workers reported losing leave entirely if it went untaken by year-end—a shift that could be influenced by increased awareness around employee rights and wellbeing.
In terms of workplace flexibility, the report reveals a strong appetite for change among Irish workers. 59% of respondents said they would support a four-day working week, even if it meant a reduction in salary. Furthermore, six in ten employees said they would back the introduction of unlimited leave.
“The debate around future leave policies remains active,” said Lynne McCormack, General Manager at FRS Recruitment. “Six in ten employees would support the introduction of unlimited leave, and a similar proportion would back a four-day working week, even if it meant adjusting salaries.”
She added: “Holidays remain one of the most important considerations for employees when weighing up a new role or reviewing their contract. This year’s findings show some positive movement: almost two-thirds of people (65%) took full advantage of their leave in 2024, up from 58% the year before.”
Despite this improvement, the fact that more than one-third of employees still left holiday days unused—with almost a quarter losing five days or more—shows there is still work to be done in encouraging a culture where rest and recovery are prioritised. “For some, these days are carried over or paid out, but for many, the time is simply lost,” McCormack concluded.
