West hit by ‘growing skills shortage’

There is a growing skills shortage in the west of Ireland for construction projects in the medical devices and pharmaceutical sectors, according to Niall Toland,a senior manager with the recruitment firm Hays.

“We have a real problem recruiting engineers, particularly mechanical and electrical engineering candidates,” says Mr Toland.

There are a number of companies in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors in the Galway, Athlone, Sligo region that are looking to expand, but are finding it difficult to source the specialised skills to complete the necessary construction projects.

Mr Toland says he has vacancies for quantity surveyors, estimators, health and safety staff as well as mechanical and electrical engineers. The salaries for mechanical and electrical engineers range from €35,000-€50,000.

The other positions offer salaries of between €50,000-€70.000, he adds. There is one vacant position for a mechanical bid manager with a salary of roughly €100,000.

Many people with these skills emigrated to the UK, Canada, Australia and the US. Moreover, there has been a sharp drop off in students taking up these courses at third level, he adds.

“The Government has introduced the job-bridge scheme and upskilling programmes, but these positions would not be suitable for those programmes. Ideally we are looking for candidates with a lot of experience.”

Over the past few years, the pharma and medical device companies have been reluctant to take on staff until they have secured new projects and contracts. But now that they have secured these contacts and projects there is a shortage of experienced personnel, which is creating a serious problem, explains Mr Toland.

He is trying to fill up to 25 positions, he adds.