Engineering sector ‘facing shortage of graduates’
Speaking in advance of this Thursday’s Smart Futures engineering seminar in Dublin, Mr Power said the sector was thriving in the face of global uncertainty.
However, he also said the sector is facing a shortage of graduates to fill a growing number of vacancies.
Mr Power said: “With Ireland becoming an early mover as a hub for cloud computing and the digital games industry, we are at a pivotal turning point. Either we nurture the skills to meet the needs of these emerging sectors or we miss a great opportunity. It’s a stark but simple choice.”
Meanwhile, Cork technology firm GxP Systems has declared its frustration at being unable to fill skilled engineering positions. GxP has vacancies for automation, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, validation and quality engineers with regulatory experience.
GxP Systems chief executive, Conor Wall, said: “We are seeking to expand our workforce by 50% to 60 people. Despite having 20 vacancies at present, there seems to be a shortage of engineers available in Ireland. Every single client company that pressed pause 18 months ago is switching back on. As a barometer of the state of Ireland’s economy, this increased demand for skilled engineers is a positive sign and something we haven’t seen for a long time. However, it is difficult to recruit experienced engineers.”
GxP’s clients have used its systems to get FDA approval for their drugs and medical devices. Engineers Ireland say that other technology companies risk facing the same skills shortages.
Mr Power said: “Through our network, we are hearing about vacancies in technology firms. Our experts at the seminar on Thursday will discuss their views on the skills needs of indigenous software and multinational companies, employment opportunities and the future potential of the sector.”
The seminar starts at 8.30am at Engineers Ireland offices in Ballsbridge.
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