Skills shortage in energy sector could threaten industry

A future skills shortage in Ireland’s burgeoning energy industry could threaten any economic resurgence, it was claimed today.

Although the Government, semi-state bodies and now financial institutions investing substantial funds in sustainable energy, questions surround Ireland’s capability to meet future labour demands.

“At the present time we aren’t experiencing a detrimental shortage of skilled workers, quite the opposite actually,” said Ross Griffin, business manager for Hays Energy.

“However, looking at the future expansion of the industry paired with Government investment, Ireland undoubtedly needs an increase of skilled graduates to realise the industry’s full potential”.

Despite the investment in the energy industry, the sector has registered a steady decline in the number of new graduates.

According to Liam Connellan, chairman of the Energy Institute in Ireland, the key to tackling this impending labour shortage is by “promoting careers in the energy sector and increasing the supply of energy specialists from third level institutions”.

He highlighted there are 30,000 people directly employed in the energy sector and he predicts these figures are likely to double over the coming decade, with the growth of both renewable and traditional energy business.

Both are currently experiencing substantial investment in order to adhere to previously signed protocols and EU directives on carbon emissions and the development of renewables.

“New sources of energy that are in development require new skills and specialisation from engineers, applied scientists and technicians,” he said.