DUBLIN, Ireland: Men in Ireland are nearly twice as likely as women to feel confident about asking for a pay raise, according to new research from Bank of Ireland.

A survey by Bank of Ireland found that only about one in four people feel confident asking for a pay raise. Around 32 percent of men said they feel confident, compared to just 17 percent of women.

Men also reported higher overall personal confidence, with 80 percent saying they feel confident in themselves, compared with 64 percent of women.

The study examined confidence in areas such as money, jobs, and life goals. About 51 percent of people said they feel confident about their finances for the next year, and 59 percent said they are comfortable talking about money with family or friends.

In general, people feel confident about themselves and reaching their goals, but men and older people tend to feel more confident than women and younger people.

However, confidence drops when people think about long-term finances or ask for better pay. Only 30 percent feel confident they could switch jobs for higher pay if needed, and 43 percent expect job levels to remain stable in 2026.

People are also less confident about the future. Only 15 percent believe the world will be better next year, while 64 percent do not feel confident about that. Men are more optimistic than women (21 percent vs 10 percent), and younger people tend to be more hopeful.

Ian Robertson from Trinity College Dublin said confidence means believing you can do something and that your actions will lead to results. He explained that confidence can influence success—when people feel confident, they are usually less anxious, take action more easily, and communicate better.

He added that people feel more confident about things they can control, such as daily decisions, and less confident about those they cannot control, such as global issues. Confidence is not the same as optimism—it's about taking action even when things are uncertain.

The research also showed that people feel less confident when making complex, long-term financial decisions, but this can improve over time with the right knowledge, support, and tools.