If you’ve worked in construction or engineering in Ireland for any length of time, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Colm Costello. With over 25 years experience in construction recruitment, he’s seen the market change, grow, slow down, and ramp back up again. Here’s Colm, in his own words, on what he does, how E-Frontiers supports clients and candidates, and what he’s seeing in the market as we head into 2026.

Colm, for anyone who doesn’t know you, can you tell us a bit about your background and what you do at E-Frontiers?

I currently lead the Construction & Engineering desk at E-Frontiers Recruitment, alongside my colleague Mark Kelly. Our focus is on building and driving a recruitment function that supports clients across Ireland’s construction and engineering sectors.

My role covers client relationship management, business development, market research, talent strategy, and mentoring recruitment consultants. Alongside all of that, I remain as hands-on as possible for both candidates and clients with general recruitment, which is something I’ve always felt is hugely important.

You’ve been in construction recruitment a long time – how did you get started, and what’s shaped your approach over the years?”

I bring over 25 years of industry experience, having started my career on the labour and trades side of construction recruitment before moving into the more white-collar, professional services side of the sector. Prior to joining E-Frontiers, I spent almost 17 years as Director of Brightpath Recruitment, specialising exclusively in construction and engineering roles across Ireland.

Before that, I held a Senior Commercial Manager role with O’Neill & Brennan. This was effectively a business development role and gave me first-hand exposure to senior commercial and operational construction professionals, the people making daily and weekly decisions that directly impacted delivery on their sites.

What kinds of roles and professionals have you worked with throughout your career?

Throughout my recruitment career, I’ve worked on key roles including Project Managers, Site Managers, Supervisors and Forepersons, Setting Out Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Estimators, Health & Safety Officers, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, BIM Coordinators, and Site and Office Administrators, among many other site- and office-based construction professionals.

That background allows me to advise both clients and candidates with a practical, market-led perspective, rather than taking a purely transactional approach to recruitment.

How would you describe the Construction & Engineering offering at E-Frontiers?

The Construction & Engineering offering we’ve built at E-Frontiers is centred around long-term partnerships rather than short-term placements. We work closely with clients to understand their project pipelines, workforce challenges, and future growth plans. This allows us to deliver informed hiring solutions, rather than reactive recruitment.

From a client’s point of view, how do you actually support companies with their hiring?

For clients, this includes talent mapping, salary benchmarking, and market insight to support strategic decision-making.

And on the candidate side, what can people expect when they work with you and the team?

For candidates, it means a professional and confidential service, guiding them through the recruitment process and helping them secure roles that align with their career goals, lifestyle considerations, and long-term progression within the construction and engineering sector.

When does Executive Search come into play, and how does that process work?

At E-Frontiers, we also offer an Executive Search service. These searches are targeted, consultative recruitment processes, typically used to hire senior leaders within an organisation, but also, on occasion, to source highly experienced candidates in key areas of a business.
As specialists in Executive Search, we map the market, discreetly approach high-calibre passive candidates, and rigorously assess them against both the role requirements and fit with company culture. We manage the entire process from shortlist and interviews, through to offer and onboarding. It’s a thorough and confidential process designed to find the right long-term fit.

Looking ahead to 2026, what trends or challenges stand out to you?

Looking ahead to 2026, the Irish construction market remains highly competitive for experienced professionals, particularly across engineering, commercial, and site management roles. Skills shortages are most evident at mid-to-senior level, with demand remaining high.

This demand is being driven by buoyancy across several key areas: residential development, due to the ongoing shortage of accommodation nationwide; infrastructure projects, including the Metro project on the horizon; and continued investment in data centres and life sciences projects, which have been central to the industry’s growth in recent years. We’re also seeing clients place increasing importance on adaptability, leadership capability, and candidates who can operate effectively across multiple project types. Retention, succession planning, and employer branding are becoming just as critical as recruitment itself.

How has the construction recruitment landscape changed over the years?

One of the biggest changes over the years is how informed and selective candidates have become. While salary is still high on the list, factors such as project location, work-life balance, travel requirements, and company culture are now playing a much bigger role in decision-making.

From a client perspective, recruitment has evolved into a far more strategic function. Companies that engage early, move efficiently, and partner closely with specialist recruiters are consistently more successful in securing and retaining top talent in what is now a very candidate-driven market.

What advice would you give to construction professionals thinking about their next move?

If you’re working in construction or engineering and thinking about your next move, or if you’re simply curious to find out more about what the construction market looks like right now, I’m always happy to have a chat. No pressure, no hard sell – just an honest conversation about where you’re at and where you want to go.

So, if someone is considering a move or just wants a bit of honest market insight, what should they do next?

Clients and candidates can contact me at any time for a chat, through LinkedIn, or via email/phone.

Colm Costello | Head of Recruitment | Construction`& Engineering
Email: colm.costello@e-frontiers.ie
Phone: 00 353 87 2294001