Warning over skills shortage in workforce

Immigration alone will not solve Ireland’s skills shortage, it was claimed today.

With economists predicting gaps in the workforce, City & Guilds director Keith Brooker warned new methods had to be adopted to attract workers.

“Our research and experience highlights a strong need for quality training, combining support for language and IT literacy skills, with a work/life balance approach to attract and retain both Irish and immigrant workers into areas facing skills shortages,” he said.

Mr Brooker will today launch a new DVD produced by City & Guilds, entitled ‘Help Yourself to a Brighter Future’, to promote vocational education and qualifications.

His views that Europe alone will not be able to fulfil Ireland’s requirement for highly skilled workers in the future have been backed by a report by Forfas and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

Ireland is now known as a country of net immigration. While 18,500 Irish people emigrated last year, 50,100 non-nationals arrived – the highest proportion coming from outside the EU.

The DVD will be officially launched tonight at the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle.