SOLAS Launches the 20th Edition of the National Skills Bulletin
SOLAS/12.11.2024
SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, has today (12.11.24), launched the 20th edition of the National Skills Bulletin.
The bulletin, produced by the SOLAS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU), has become a valuable resource over the last 20 years, providing insights on the Irish labour market at occupational level and identifying where shortages and recruitment challenges exist.
It has also informed the development of labour market activation programmes and assisted students, job seekers, persons returning to work, investors and employers in making smart career and business choices.
Since 2005, Ireland’s labour market has changed significantly, with a more highly skilled, highly educated workforce, and a greater share of females, older people and non-Irish citizens employed. However, many of the shortages identified in the first edition of the bulletin have persisted, in part due to high employment growth and changes in job roles resulting from changes in technology and national and EU policies linked to the green agenda, healthcare and housing.
Ireland’s labour market has proven to be remarkably resilient in recent years, recovering strongly from the pandemic in 2022, and continuing to grow moderately in 2023.
Some of the key findings of the latest edition of the National Skills Bulletin 2024 show that in addition to digital and sustainability skills, there is evidence of a persistent demand across the economy for soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and leadership, as well as cross sectoral or cross occupational skills, such as sales, marketing, talent management, project management, data analysis, among many others.
Key Findings from the National Skills Bulletin 2024:
2.68 million persons were in employment: employment growth in 2023 was 3.4% or 89,500 additional employees
Unemployment rate of 4.3% for 2023 was amongst the lowest annual average unemployment rates seen since before the financial crisis in 2008
Along with an analysis of recent job hires (at 494,000 in 2023), this Bulletin has added an analysis of recent job leavers; of those who left the workforce, 38% entered unemployment and 62% became economically inactive
Approximately 29,000 new employment permits were issued in 2023, a decrease of 21% on the previous year but considerably higher than 2021 levels. The decline primarily relates to a reduced number of permits issued for the ICT sector. The ICT and health sectors combined accounted for half of new permits issued.
Although strong employment growth has produced considerable opportunities, it has also led to challenges in sourcing candidates to fill vacant roles, particularly as unemployment is at near record lows. This year’s Bulletin identifies skills shortages persisting in occupations in science and engineering, ICT, health and social care, education, construction, other craft, hospitality, and transport and logistics. Recruitment issues were also highlighted in areas such as environmental, healthcare and construction.
Speaking at the launch Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS said: “Findings from the National Skills Bulletin provides further evidence of an immediate need to grow participation in lifelong learning in Ireland to mirror that of our peers in high growth, high innovation, developed open economies. This is essential to maintain competitiveness, particularly in the context of the rapidly changing world of work and the need for everyone to upskill and reskill throughout their careers.”
FET focuses on flexible, tailored, industry-relevant provision which means it can be a key provider of these opportunities, responding to the critical skills needs in Ireland, and playing an important part in the development of future skills such as digitisation, decarbonisation and demographic change.
The 2024 National Skills Bulletin contains important information to help us identify skills needs and ensure that we are aligning it with FET provision.”
Also speaking at the event Kevin Marshall, Chair of the National Skills Council & Head of Future Skilling, Microsoft Ireland: “The skills intelligence from the National Skills Bulletin is an excellent resource for those involved in formulating skills policy. This year’s Bulletin provides a wealth of evidence to help inform decision making, ensuring Ireland remains competitive and that public policy is responsive to the needs of Ireland’s economy, workforce and citizens.”
Joan McNaboe, Research Manager of the SOLAS’ SLMRU said: “The accelerating pace of scientific and technological innovation and the changing world of work means that meeting skills needs is more than just about closing existing skills gaps. Regular monitoring of skills in demand and identifying emerging trends using a variety of labour market indicators remains critical in Ireland’s ability to respond to changing skills demand, including addressing shortages.”
The National Skills Bulletin 2024 is available here