Closing the skills gap: why micro-credentials matter now

Irish employers are sending a clear and consistent message: the skills they need are becoming increasingly difficult to find

Launching the micro-credential courses at MTU, Prof Maggie Cusack, president, Gerard O’Donovan, vice dean of business; Mariel Brooks, project manager; and Prof Christine Cross, vice president academic affairs, and registrar. Picture: Joleen Cronin.

Across sectors—from digital technologies and engineering to sustainability and regulatory capability—businesses are struggling to recruit people with the right expertise. Skillnet Ireland’s report, Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025, notes that 42 per cent of organisations are experiencing difficulties sourcing employees with the required skillsets, particularly in technical and engineering roles, digital technologies, and regulatory functions.