Skills needs at US multinationals a driver of trends in Irish education

Such is the weight that US multinational corporations (MNCs) carry in Ireland that where they go the workforce follows. It makes them a significant bellwether for future skills trends.

In its 2024 pre-budget submission American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham) outlined a vision for Ireland in 2050 that would see the country as number one in the EU for digital literacy, research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing.

It believes Ireland could be a global centre of research excellence in critical sectors such as life sciences and digital manufacturing. It also believes Ireland has the capacity to be a European leader in sustainable energy exports and, to cap it off, hold poll position in the UN quality of life index.

It’s a tall order but given that Ireland is already home to nine of the top 10 US technology companies, 10 of the world’s leading pharma companies and 14 of the world’s top 15 medtech firms, these are aspirations that stand on solid ground.

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The key to achieving them will be investment in Ireland’s talent. Ireland currently has the fourth most diverse workforce in the EU, with net immigration a larger driver of population growth now than natural increase.

AmCham members highlight talent attraction as one of the foremost challenges to growth and investment in Ireland. The greatest skills gaps that exist for AmCham members are in engineering, data and digital, machine learning, and AI. As these areas also represent some of the greatest opportunities in the years ahead, it wants significant moves to be made by the Government to plug these gaps.

It is also keen to see an increased focus on apprenticeships. Complementary to the current third level system, US MNCs believe an opportunity exists to strengthen and expand apprenticeships to provide alternative pathways to highly skilled, technical roles.

Consequently, we can anticipate the range of apprenticeships available here to expand increasingly into technical skills such as software development, AI, engineering, advanced and digital manufacturing, supply chain, immersive technologies and cybersecurity.

As part of this AmCham wants a greater focus on communications campaigns aimed at school-leavers, as well as those in the workforce, showcasing apprenticeships as a pathway to qualifications. A greater commitment to lifelong learning will also be key, especially as Eurostat measures on lifelong learning show Ireland is significantly behind some of it EU counterparts.

According to Eurostat, 13.6 per cent of the adult population in Ireland were engaged in lifelong learning in 2021. This stands in contrast to Sweden (34.7 per cent), and Finland (30.5 per cent).

The appointment of an “artificial intelligence ambassador” in 2022 is seen by US MNCs as a positive step in addressing future skills needs. A key part of the role, undertaken by Dr Patricia Scanlon, is to engage with young people – including through last year’s National Youth Assembly on AI – on their attitudes, awareness and fears in relation to AI as well as to promote careers in technology.

AmCham members are now keen to also see a national champion for STEM appointed, to support talent development in science, technology, engineering and maths, build awareness of career opportunities and foster greater collaboration between industry and academia.

Such collaboration has already been boosted by the introduction of MicroCreds, a new initiative based on the development of short, highly targeted training courses by universities in partnership with industry.

These enterprise-led and accredited courses last just five to 12 weeks and are available both online and in a blended format. They are designed to plug skills gaps fast. University College Cork recently ran two in human anatomy, in collaboration with medical technology company Stryker.

More such innovations in relation to skills are likely, not least because a survey of AmCham members carried out earlier this year found that 70 per cent intend to increase employment further in the months ahead.

The good news is that 93 per cent said Ireland’s talented workforce is meeting their recruitment needs. But 76 per cent said more collaboration is needed between third level institutions and industry, and 18 per cent want more focus on apprenticeships.

What’s more, more than half (52 per cent) said they were currently undertaking one or more research projects in Ireland. With the most common projects being in AI, sustainability, medtech and cybersecurity, the need for skills in these sectors will only intensify.