Record number of apprenticeships taken up in 2024

Solas CEO Andrew Brownlee. File picture: Jim Coughlan

Interest in further education such as apprenticeships or alternative routes to university entry are growing in popularity as a record number of further education and training offers were taken up last year.

In 2024, more than 400,000 further education and training (FET) places were taken up by almost 230,000 learners for the first time ever.

Provisional data released today by Solas shows that there has been a steady increase in FET participation in the last five years.

This includes more than 9,300 new apprentices registered across 77 different apprenticeships with close to 10,000 employers.

Last year, 25,000 upskilling places were taken up by employees through Solas’ ‘Skills to Advance’ programme, focusing on areas like sustainability, digital and robotics. There were also almost 37,000 enrolments in eCollege, Solas’ online learning platform, an increase of 47% from 2023.

In 2024, Solas issued more than 150,000 cards across construction skills schemes, including more than 6,500 learners who trained in essential zero energy buildings (ZEB) and retrofitting skills by the end of last November.

The more than 400,000 FET places includes both long and short duration programmes delivered on a full-time, part-time, evening or online basis from Levels 1-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Many learners opt to undertake more than one course. 

The 2024 data was compiled by the Data Analytics Unit in Solas, based on information provided by 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across Ireland. 

The record number of places taken up last year is a "testament" made by the sector, including the delivery of FET, widening participation to marginalised communities and ensuring FET becomes a valuable learning pathway in Ireland, according to Solas CEO Andrew Brownlee. He said: 

With one in ten adults now impacted in some way by the learning supported by Solas, our ambition is to grow this further to half a million people by 2026 and ensure that FET can respond to the rapidly evolving skills environment and play a key role in the delivery of workforce transformation.  

School leavers are increasingly choosing FET and apprenticeships as a "first destination", he added.
“We have created clear and accessible pathways between FET and Higher Education, with FET now being considered as the ‘go to’ place for up-skilling and reskilling, and recognised as a vital resource that can respond quickly to the critical skills needs in Ireland."

"Whilst we have achieved a great deal, it is important that we continue with this trajectory so that FET can be a pivotal driver of equality and inclusion, ensuring access to education for all and pathways, and that FET is recognised as an essential piece of national infrastructure in the same way that housing, transport or health is valued.”