The Government has published a plan that outlines how it plans to fill 44,500 vacancies in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry by 2018, as part of the recently released Action Plan for Jobs 2014.
The plan says that an additional 1,250 ICT undergraduate places will be made available annually from this year, with the aim of filing nearly three quarters (74%) of demand for ICT workers domestically. The plan reports that currently, only 60% of demand for ICT workers is being met domestically, though this is up from 45% in 2011.
To meet the other 26% of ICT worker demand, the plan states that of up to 2,000 work permits will be issued per year to ICT professionals with relevant skills, with “an increased focus on recent Irish emigrants and EEA nationals”.
Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, said that to meet the demand domestically, a number of reforms will be introduced beyond the extra undergraduate places, including increasing the retention rate of students on ICT related courses, a further round of ICT skills conversion courses, promotion of careers in ICT to primary and second level students with industry support and the roll-out courses in digital media literacy, programming and coding in the new Junior Cycle Student Awards.
“We have set out the ambition of making Ireland the most attractive location in the world for ICT skills, and we are delivering on that through a combination of Irish educated people and talent from abroad” – Minister Bruton
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, outlined further reforms aimed at ensuring a strong ICT talent pool and promoting Ireland as a centre for high-level ICT skills. These included the promotion of STEM and ICT careers through SFI Discover Smart Futures and the training more than 450 volunteers to give career talks in schools, the development of a web portal to attract international talent with in demand skills to Ireland, career fairs abroad with the participation of companies with relevant vacancies, the issuing of up to 2,000 employment permits per year to experienced ICT professionals with skills in high demand and increased efficiency in the employment permits process and introduce new legislation to enhance the application process.
“As part of the Government’s drive to make Ireland the most attractive location globally for ICT Skills,” said Minister Quinn, “it is essential that we have a good pipeline of highly skilled graduates to meet the demands of industry.”
“I am delighted the hard work of Government, State Agencies and Industry through the first ICT Action Plan is paying off. When we launched the Plan in 2012, only 45% of the ICT skills demand was being met domestically from higher education programmes. This year the education system is expected to meet 60% of demand. But, we need to be more ambitious and that is why we have set a target of meeting almost three quarters of industry demands here at home by 2018.”
“The ICT sector is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs,” said Minister Bruton, “and over the past two years we have seen significant jobs growth in this area. If we are to sustain and build on this, it is crucial that we deal with one of the biggest issues facing the ICT industry worldwide – skills shortages. We have set out the ambition of making Ireland the most attractive location in the world for ICT skills, and we are delivering on that through a combination of Irish educated people and talent from abroad. Through major changes, reforms already delivered and the new plan announced today, we can ensure that we continue to foster the growth of Irish companies and attract multinational companies in this area, and ultimately help deliver the jobs in Ireland that we so badly need”.
The ICT measures as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 was warmly welcomed by employer’s group ICT Ireland, an IBEC group.
“There are already more than 105,000 people employed in the tech sector in Ireland and, since 2011, there have been over 15,000 jobs announced,” said Paul Sweetman, director, ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association. “By working together business and government can build on this success. Ireland is first in the Eurozone for ease of doing business, and first for availability of skilled labour, but there is a skills demand which needs to be addressed. This plan will ensure that we have the right skills and the right people to deliver jobs and sustainable growth.
“The ICT Skills Action Plan sends a powerful signal that Ireland is serious about being the best location in the world for tech talent. In every tech jurisdiction, the demand for skills is pressing. This Action Plan gives Ireland a powerful competitive advantage in making Ireland a premier location for technology companies to grow and prosper. Focus must now move to implementing the plan’s actions.”
EMC also welcomed the plan.
“EMC welcomes the Government’s continued support for the Irish technology sector, as clearly outlined in today’s ICT Skills Action Plan,” said Sarah Abbott, senior director, HR, EMC Ireland.
“Ireland, despite economic difficulties, has retained its place as a global technology hub and a leading exporter of ICT services.
“Furthermore, the Irish technology sector has consistently proven a vital source of job creation. The report indicates that as many as 44,500 new positions will be created in tech firms here by 2018. The provision of an extra 1,250 undergraduate places in ICT courses, as outlined in today’s action plan, will be hugely beneficial in making our future workforce more versatile and more competitive.
“The Government’s commitment to educating our young people at primary and secondary level in digital media and programming is an extremely valuable long-term investment that assures our continued leadership in tech, especially as new, disruptive technologies, like Big Data analytics and cloud solutions, become integral parts of today’s business landscape.”
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