Second- and third-level students as well as women seeking to return to the workforce are among those failing to get the information they need to make correct career choices, a major report from the expert group on future skills needs has revealed.
Calling for the establishment of a "user-friendly" internet portal for careers information, the report argues that while many of the existing careers sites have valuable up-to-date information, the level of awareness of these sites is low, ranging from 6-24 per cent.
There is also a high level of interest among school and college students, women looking to return to work, and redundant workers for easy access to labour market information about skills needs, occupational, employment and salary trends.
But the report says these groups are often not aware of this information - or how to access it.
Research conducted for the report, which was launched by Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin earlier this week, also indicates that personal interest is the primary career driver for most people, followed by future career opportunities.
The influence of parents and the level of points required are also key factors, the report suggests. But the availability of particular courses is seen as more important than current job opportunities.
This indicates that respondents are generally thinking about training themselves for long-term careers rather than simply applying for what is available.
"While there is great interest in formal labour market information, its style of presentation means that at present it is accessible to mainly policy and academic audiences," the report adds.
Amid increasing concern about the high dropout level from third-level courses, the report notes that guidance staff-to-student ratios are much lower at third level than at second level.
Among the key findings are:
Ireland should move to a single portal/gateway site, which would be fully resourced in terms of course, labour market, careers and information about companies and organisations.
This should be targeted at school and third-level users, but also at less typical users.
Existing career sites such as Qualifax, Career Directions and Grad Ireland should be promoted until a new national portal is established.
Improvements should be made in the availability and accessibility of labour market information on careers databases, with a wider range of self-assessment tools such as CV builders.
The recommendations have been examined by Ms Hanafin's department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.