Top 10 In-Demand Skills in Ireland

Ireland has a fast-paced economy with a growth rate expectation of 1.2% in 2024 and 3.6% in 2025. With the growth in the economy, there are massive opportunities to find a job in various sectors. 

Under Project Ireland 2040, the country is also aiming for thousands of new jobs, social amenities and better environmental sustainability by 2040. The project has combined the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan 2021-2030 to reach these goals. 

Businesses are looking to hire skilled workers, but more than 8 in 10 struggle to find the right talent. This marks the highest level of difficulty in the past two decades, according to ManpowerGroup's tracking of talent shortages. 

The increase in job-hopping among employees, and rising salary expectations from candidates are some of the contributing factors. Overall, the talent shortage is at an all-time high in Ireland. 

Which skills are in demand in Ireland?

Ireland faces a talent shortage across industries, leading to a low hire rate. Skills in demand in Ireland include expertise in AI, engineering, sales, and construction.

1. Information Technology Skills

Ireland is popular for being a technological sector hub in the European region, with several roles available. However, currently, there is a gap in the skills and the number of jobs in the IT sector. The gap in the tech talent shortage may increase further by the end of 2024. This has been a concern of many policymakers, industry leaders, and educational institutions.

Several roles for IT support engineers, cybersecurity professionals, IT department administrators, and data analysts are available for those who have the skills.

2. AI Skills

As per the Talent Tracker report, the need for AI professionals is at an all-time high, with a 142% increase. Many sectors, like teaching, marketing, and design, leverage AI to boost productivity. As per Storm Technology research, 59% of businesses are adopting AI technology to be competitive and not lose market share. 

These businesses in Ireland are focusing on gaining from the potential of AI. Currently, their biggest challenge is finding the right talent equipped with technological knowledge.

Even the limited talent pool is concentrated in Dublin, with about 63% of the AI professionals located there. This leaves other regions with a massive skill gap. There is more demand for AI expertise in cities other than Dublin in sectors like banking, technology, and pharmaceuticals.

3. Teaching Skills

Ireland has a major teaching staff shortage going on at the post-primary level in schools. This is proven by the Irish National Teachers’ Organization INTO survey, which shows a high number of vacancies in the teaching field. Some major subjects like economics, math, metalwork, engineering, and science don’t have professional teachers.

Ireland’s index of school staff shortage is 0.08%, leaving the burden of teaching on few professionals. This index is used to measure the gap between the number of available skilled teachers and the number required to meet the current demands. The low index indicates low number of teaching positions filled in comparison to the vacancies. 

Coupled with skill shortages, there has also been a demographic change with the aging population. About 88.09% of teachers voluntarily retired in 2021, with the most common retirement age being 60. 

4. Construction Skills

As per a study at the Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland has a shortage of skilled labor in the construction sector, which will be more pronounced by the end of 2030. Some of the most impacted areas include designing, plumbing, and carpentering. Moreover, there's about a 30-40% deficit in skilled labor for positions of quantity surveyors and structural experts. 

The same study shows 284,000 skilled workers will be needed for construction in the country. Around 164,000 existing workers need retraining. Many organizations are looking for new skills in project management, surveying, and technical capabilities.

5. Sales Skills

81% of Irish employers are struggling to hire skilled talent, with several businesses dealing with acute shortages. The sales and marketing companies reported a 20% shortage of skilled staff, with vacancies remaining empty for a long time. Many roles require more than basic skills for marketing jobs, and companies are not settling for unskilled people. 

Moreover, the skills requirement for sales professionals is also evolving, leading to a bigger skills gap. Many employers are looking for professionals with better communication and digital literacy. They want someone who's adaptable and flexible with the changing demands of the job.

6. Healthcare Skills

There is a shortage of skilled labor in the healthcare department in Ireland. Currently, Ireland is below the OECD average for the total number of doctors per population. To bridge this gap, the requirement for nurses, doctors, and other healthcare technicians with the right skills is high. 

About 93% of doctors say staff shortages are dangerous and need immediate attention. About 41% believe hiring more staff will take away the added pressure on patients' health and well-being. 

There are several positions in healthcare for national and international students. The country is in need of a skilled healthcare force and is preparing to offer better training and education to attract more talent. 

7. Finance Skills

As per a finance report by Expert Group on Future Skills, there is a substantial gap of skilled professionals in the finance sector. By 2027, there is a need to hire 6,000 and 9,000 professionals to fill the gap for smooth operations. The suggested number may help in stronger financial growth of various departments. 

“We need to ensure that not only do we have enough skilled workers to meet the needs of the finance sector, but also that there are skills, qualifications, education and training programmes in place to ensure that we have a pipeline of talent that can allow the sector to thrive not only now, but into the future.”

Minister of State for Financial Services
Credit Unions and Insurance
Neale Richmond.

The current employment rate is over 53,000, showing that 4,000 lack the required skills to fulfill their jobs. Most of the gaps are observed in areas like fintech, asset management, investment, and international banking.

8. Driving Skills 

There is a global shortage of drivers, as per the World Road Transport Organization research, and more than 7 million empty driver positions are expected by 2028. The same report found 3 million vacant truck driver jobs in 36 countries studied in the survey. Meanwhile, Ireland has a shortage of HGV drivers. 

Apart from this, about 30% of drivers are expected to retire by 2026, leaving more vacancies for skilled drivers. The rise in retired drivers will also add more to the driver shortage in Ireland. 

9. Hospitality Skills

90% of businesses are finding it hard to hire skilled hospitality and tourism workers. Many believe they may have to close down due to a lack of skilled operators. To attract talent, many organizations have started paying higher salaries. 

The demand and number of jobs for hospitality staff have increased over the years from 500 per annum in 2019 to 2100 in 2022.

10. Engineering Skills

As per Engineers Ireland’s latest employers’ survey, there has been a shortage of skilled engineers. 72% of survey members consider that engineers do not have the appropriate skills to take on the job. There is a need for engineering experts in the county, with more than 8,000 jobs already generated in 2023. 

Some in-demand engineering skills in Ireland include construction, software, electrical, and civil engineering. Upskilling in these areas, even with vocational courses, can be a game changer in one’s career. 

How to Improve Your Skills for Ireland’s Job Market

The Irish government promotes skill enhancement by making vocational courses accessible to all. Here are some of them to improve your skills for your dream job: 

• Vocational Education and Training in Europe: The institute offers 25 Craft apprenticeships in fields like electrical, construction, motor, and engineering and 37 apprenticeships in ICT, logistics, property service, finance, hospitality and food, and sales. You may also choose the Specific Skills Training(SST) for initial vocational education and training(IVET) or continuing vocational education and training (CVET).  These courses are flexible and may be tailored to individual needs. 

• FET Courses: Further education and training(FET) courses are available to develop skills in the industrial and commercial sectors. Pick from full-time, part-time, online, and evening courses at your convenience. Use the course finder to pick the specific course. Courses include bridging foundation, specific skills, traineeship, apprenticeship and blended learning courses.

• Human Capital Initiative (HCI): Find courses to upskill and re skill in fields such as cybersecurity, environment sciences, biochemistry, construction, information and communications technology (ICT), and data analytics. Choose from various apprenticeships and development programs. Students who satisfy the eligibility criteria can access Pillar 1 programs for free. 

Conclusion

Ireland's economic growth and rise in job demands are offering positions in several sectors, such as finance, construction, hospitality, and engineering. Vocational training programs provide industry-specific courses and education that enable a person to get the right experience for better jobs. 

Upskilling teams in the workplace is an effective way to address the skills needed in Ireland. Identifying gaps in in-demand skills and pursuing vocational courses ensures the workforce is equipped to meet the evolving demands of the job market. 

Partnering with the right training providers for corporate training is the key to workforce development and learning about new technology and upskilling. For businesses wanting a reliable partner in skill development, we recommend Edstellar with its industry-focused training courses. Moreover, Edstellar offers tools like the Skill Matrix for easy gap analysis for choosing tailored executive coaching.