Skills seen as key to future

A MASSIVE increase in the number of highly skilled workers in the labour force is Ireland’s Inc’s main weapon in competing for jobs in the years ahead, the latest report of the Expert Group for Future Skills Needs says.

“An optimistic view is that labour shortages per se will no longer be as significant a concern as previously,” the report says.. “The new challenge will be to maintain competitiveness internationally by improving labour productivity in a cost-effective manner while minimising the impact on unemployment. Therefore, policy should focus primarily on increasing the proportion of highly skilled workers in the labour force.” The group also found that sectors as diverse as biotechnology, engineering and logistics are primed for significant growth from 2005 onwards;

It has identified six key policy recommendations: