Skills shortage: Irish employers urgently need more trained and experienced workers

As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and approach full employment, a shortage of skilled people could jeopardise Ireland's economic recovery

Writing in these pages just before the general election of February 2020, economist Jim Power highlighted the remarkable recovery in the labour market since 2012.

Unemployment was down below 5%, a record number of people in the economy were working, and Ireland was inching towards full employment again. But it wouldn’t be enough for the party in power to boost its support.