A new report from Forfás has predicted that there will be more than 44,000 new job openings for people with high-level ICT skills over the next six years, but the Government must increase investment to produce these skills.
Expert Group on Future Skills Needs report found that in 2012, there were 68,280 ICT professionals working within the ICT sector, and across other sectors of the economy. However, it forecasts that demand will increase by an average 5% per annum for these high-level ICT skills up to 2018, potentially increasing the employment of ICT professionals to 91,000.
The report recommends that Ireland maintains a strong competitive advantage in attracting mobile ICT investment and encouraging entrepreneurs to set up, grow and locate their ICT businesses in Ireland. Ensuring an adequate supply of creative and innovative ICT talent from both the domestic and international talent pool is key to that effort, warns the report.
To achieve the jobs potential, the report notes that all “potential policy levers” will need to continue to be utilised to increase high-level ICT skills supply. It lists these as mainstream education and training, conversion and reskilling programmes, continuing professional development and attracting experienced international talent, including expatriate talent. The report highlights the key demand for high-level ICT professionals and notes that the level and quality of domestic ICT graduates is a critical component in the supply of skills, over time adding to the stock of experienced professionals.
The report recommends that additional iterations of the skills conversion programmes from 2014 and beyond will be essential to contribute to meeting the increasing demand. For example, in just over one year an investment of €10 million by the Department of Education and Skills has delivered more than 1,500 places on industry-designed ICT conversion programmes. Such programmes provide graduates from other disciplines the opportunity to pursue new careers in ICT and industry access to a new pool of talented graduates with up to date ICT qualifications.
The output of computer graduates in Ireland has increased by 25% over the last two years and a doubling of graduate output is now expected to be achieved by 2015, which is some three years ahead of the Action Plan target of 2018. This comes as a result of the implementation of the Government ICT Skills Action Plan which is a collaboration between Government, Industry and the education system.
“At a time of expanding industry demand for skills this shows what can be achieved when Government, industry and the education system work together,” said Ruairi Quinn, TD, Minister for Education and Skills.
“Just under two years ago when Minister Bruton and I launched the ICT Skills Action Plan, it was estimated that the domestic supply of ICT talent was meeting about 45% of the skills demand of industry. As a result of the measures we have taken under the Plan it is now projected that the supply of graduates from the education system will meet 63% of demand in 2014.”
“The implementation of key reforms at primary and second level, allied to the introduction of bonus points for maths is also building the mathematical proficiency of students entering third level which is critical to ensuring a strong supply of graduates for all STEM roles. This is evident in the almost 60% increase in the honours level maths take up at Leaving Cert level, over the last 3 years.
“This report provides a very timely input to the review of the ICT Action Plan which my Department is undertaking jointly with the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation,” concluded Minister Quinn.
“The ICT sector is of strategic importance to Ireland,” said Richard Bruton, TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, “both in terms of the numbers of jobs employed and its contribution to Ireland’s export performance, accounting for €70 billion in exports per annum. ICT skills are already a key focus of the Action Plan for Jobs with three of our seven Disruptive Reforms dedicated to ICT, including particular actions aimed at ICT skills. This report will further sustain the effort to ensure Ireland has the necessary skills to meet the opportunity that this sector offers for jobs and growth.”
“The research highlights the positive employment potential and the large scope for job creation in Ireland if the right steps are taken,” said Una Halligan, chairperson, EGFSN. “Industry has an important part to play here. Improved ICT talent development and retention practices within companies are essential for both experienced employees and the career path development of new graduates. It is positive that around 90% of the enterprises interviewed for this report are planning to hire new ICT graduates, and that a majority are willing to invest more on in-company training. Another important aspect will be industry’s role in raising awareness of the excellent and rewarding careers in the sector and attracting people, particularly women, to the opportunities available.”
Martin Shanahan, chief executive, Forfás, commenting on the global perspective: “The challenge to meet Ireland’s demand for people with ICT skills is set against the background of a strong global demand for ICT talent with other countries also actively competing for these skills. Several technological and market trends are impacting on the development of ICT related business opportunities and the demand for skillsets and competences. These include the adoption of cloud computing; the rapid penetration of mobile devices and technologies; emergence of Big Data analytics; adoption of social technologies, IT Security and Micro and Nano electronics.”
“Having the right policies in place to develop and attract ICT skills to Ireland is of the utmost importance for both foreign direct investment companies and indigenous companies. The successful implementation of measures to boost the supply of ICT professionals in Ireland depends upon the active collaboration of Government, education and training providers and businesses,” said Shanahan.
The report is available at www.skillsireland.ie and the Forfás site www.forfas.ie
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