Boosting Ireland’s competitiveness and innovation
Ireland’s international reputation and profile as an innovative, agile and high-performing economy is critically dependent on its talented and highly skilled workforce. Skillnet Ireland’s report entitled Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025: Future Skills Challenges of Irish Business identified the skills challenges facing businesses in adapting to the changing nature of work in the face of the digital, AI, and green transitions.
The report, which surveyed 500 businesses from across Ireland stresses the challenges of sourcing and retaining skilled talent. In an economy operating at historic employment levels, sourcing skills remains a challenge, with 42 per cent of businesses struggling to find employees with essential skillsets. Almost 80 per cent of businesses indicated their staff will require digital upskilling in the coming years to perform their roles, while two-thirds (66 per cent) said they will need climate action and sustainability related upskilling.
The report also shows a growing consensus on the importance of AI across all sectors, albeit with different levels of AI usage across sectors of the economy. The research found that while 54 per cent of Irish companies are yet to use AI, 66 per cent of respondents believe the technology will have the potential to grow their business within the next two years.
Speaking at the launch of the Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025 report, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said: “This new research from Skillnet Ireland provides invaluable insights into the skills and workforce challenges facing Irish businesses at this pivotal time. Ireland’s highly skilled workforce has long been the foundation of our economic success, and this study underscores the critical importance of continued investment in talent development to sustain our global competitiveness.”
Accelerating innovation
Skillnet Ireland has continued to deliver the objectives set out in its Statement of Strategy 2021-2025, with the launch of innovative workforce development supports for businesses including new initiatives dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, offshore wind and modern methods of construction.
Mark Jordan, Chief Executive, Skillnet Ireland, says: “As a knowledge-based economy, nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness. Our research and engagement with industry signals the skills challenges facing Irish businesses as they navigate a rapidly evolving economic landscape. A positive we are seeing is increasing numbers of Irish businesses choosing to invest in upskilling. They recognise the impact upskilling and reskilling has on their competitiveness.”
Skillnet Ireland recently launched Pathways to Innovate, a collaborative initiative delivered by a number of Skillnet Ireland industry partners which has been designed to help established small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow by embedding innovation into their operations. Through training, leadership development, and industry collaboration, the programme helps SMEs upskill their workforce, adopt digital transformation, and connect with partners and funding to achieve long-term success and a competitive edge. One of the Pathway to Innovate supports from the IRDG Innovation Skillnet is a hands-on practical programme which aims to help regional small and medium-sized enterprise leaders to not only navigate the route to innovation but convert it into business growth.
“In today’s challenging economic environment, Irish SMEs need practical, results-oriented solutions to stay competitive. Through our collaboration with Skillnet Ireland, this pioneering programme provides business leaders with a clear strategic roadmap, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and hands-on guidance to convert innovation into real growth for Irish enterprises,” says Dermot Casey, CEO of the Industry Research and Development Group (IRDG).
Growth-oriented Irish SMEs across any sector with a focus on new products, services or processes, who need structured support to accelerate, will benefit from their involvement in the Pathways to Innovate programme which is co-ordinated by Skillnet Innovation Exchange and IRDG Innovation Skillnet, in partnership with ISME Skillnet, Irish Medtech Skillnet and Taste4Success Skillnet.
“By aligning its focus and supports with national priorities and industry needs, Skillnet Ireland demonstrates a deep commitment to building a resilient, innovative, and future-ready workforce.”
Developing future skills
Another consistent area of interest amongst business leaders is how best to develop learning solutions that meet the needs of both businesses and their workforce. Micro-credentials have continued to play a crucial role in supporting lifelong learning and offer flexible, targeted, and accessible learning opportunities for individuals already in the workforce. The micro-credential sized learning approach has remained popular, aligns with the fast-paced changes in industry demands, and helps develop our agile and responsive workforce.
Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy have recently launched 12 new university accredited micro-credentials targeted at mid-career professionals currently employed who have the potential to transition into offshore renewable energy, including geophysicists, GIS technicians, resource analysts and able seafarers. The suite of programmes developed in partnership with a range of academic institutions including UCC, TU Dublin and UCD are crafted in collaboration with industry experts to help develop Ireland’s workforce in meeting the future demands of the offshore wind energy sector.
At the launch of the programmes, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin TD, said: “The new university-accredited courses offered by Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy will equip professionals with the specialised skills needed to drive the development of Ireland’s offshore wind sector. These programmes will provide pathways into high-impact, future-proofed careers that will help us deliver on our net zero commitments, strengthen our economy, and protect our environment for generations to come.”
By aligning its focus and supports with national priorities and industry needs, Skillnet Ireland demonstrates a deep commitment to building a resilient, innovative, and future-ready workforce. As skills gaps remain a critical challenge for businesses, Skillnet Ireland continues to be a cornerstone in Ireland’s competitiveness, enabling companies to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
