Workers ‘must better their abilities’

IRISH workers need to raise their skill levels, while our universities must deliver more high-quality graduates with knowledge that is relevant to enterprise, the government think-tank on science and technology policy said yesterday.

The Forfas-sponsored Expert Group on Future Skills Needs said its review of progress in meeting Ireland’s skills requirements had found that good progress had been made, but that future planning needed to take account of a shift from investment-led growth to innovation.

Forfas, which advises the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said it would look to raise skill levels in the workforce and give employees skills that were transferrable to other jobs rather than company-specific.