Ireland must diversify tech talent pipelines to meet demand for 89,000 ICT roles by 2030, warns Scale Ireland report led by Trinity and workforce experts.
Ireland’s current skills supply will be insufficient to meet future demand from its growing technology sector, according to a new report that warns the country must diversify its talent pipelines beyond traditional university routes.
The report, commissioned by Scale Ireland and conducted by Trinity Business School’s Professor David Collings and workforce development consultant Dr Shirley Kavanagh, found that while Ireland performs well in international skills comparisons, it faces serious challenges in meeting the demands of an expanding tech sector.
“What got us here, will not get us where we need to be”
Scale Ireland is a representative organisation for Irish tech start-ups and scaling companies with 800 members.
New thinking needed on skills development
“What got us here, will not get us where we need to be,” the report concluded, highlighting that Ireland’s indigenous IT sector requires a fundamental shift in approach to skills development.
The analysis projects that Ireland’s overall ICT sector may require as many as 89,590 new positions by 2030, with particular demand for artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and network security skills.
While Ireland produces ICT graduates at a creditable rate, “current supply models will be insufficient to meet future demand,” according to the report. The authors recommend greater focus on alternative entry routes such as apprenticeships, noting that third-level institutions alone cannot provide sufficient supply.
The sector already relies heavily on international talent, with 40 per cent of employment filled by non-national workers. However, barriers to attracting global talent include high personal tax rates, cost of living concerns, and infrastructure challenges particularly in housing and transport.
The report emphasises that reskilling and upskilling of existing employees will be critical as the skills landscape evolves.
“Organisations must invest in continuous learning, upskilling and reskilling to meet emerging skills needs,” it states, warning that smaller companies including indigenous tech start-ups are less likely to have talent development strategies in place.
Start-up and scaling companies face particular challenges in attracting necessary talent due to their limited human resources capacity compared to larger firms. The report suggests sectoral initiatives will be critical, with bodies such as Skillnet Ireland playing a key role in upskilling efforts.
The analysis also calls for additional diversity pathways, noting that despite strong commitments to inclusion and women’s empowerment, female employment in ICT remains relatively low.
The authors project that any job losses from AI-driven automation will be offset by higher overall growth in the sector, following historical trends where technological advances ultimately create more employment opportunities than they eliminate.
“Ireland will be competing against other jurisdictions for skills talent and we must engage realistically on the nature of the challenge,” the report concluded.
Top image: Martina Fitzgerald, CEO, Scale Ireland and Dr Shirley Kavanagh (one of the authors) presenting the report to Minister Peter Burke
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