Engineering Skillnet unveils new strategy to tackle industry skills shortfall
- New strategy pivots to hybrid competencies as tech skills lifespan shrinks to 2.5 years
- 84% of engineering employers are experiencing skills identification challenges
Engineering Skillnet, promoted by Ibec, today launched its new strategic plan, ‘Engineering a Skills-First Future 2026-2029', which outlines an ambitious roadmap to safeguard Ireland’s position as a global leader in engineering excellence by broadening the talent pool and accelerating learning velocity.
According to research, within the new strategy 84% of engineering employers are experiencing skills identification challenges, while 54% of all staff require significant upskilling or reskilling.
The Irish engineering sector, which comprises over 11,906 enterprises and employs 62,068 people, currently faces a rapid "Twin Transition" of digitalisation and carbon neutrality. To combat these challenges, the strategy advocates a fundamental shift from a traditional focus on job roles and fixed titles toward a more human-centric, "skills-first” approach to workforce development.
Pauline O’Flanagan, Director of Engineering Industries Ireland (Ibec), noted the strategy's critical alignment with national competitiveness: "In 2026, global competitiveness is defined not by hardware or capital investment alone, but by the skills agility of our workforce to operate and optimise increasingly complex, interconnected systems. To remain a global leader, Ireland must look beyond traditional job classifications and embrace a skills-first approach.”
Launching the strategy, Fiona Fennell, Network Manager of Engineering Skillnet, said:
"Work is changing at a rapid pace, with jobs fragmenting and many skills now expiring quickly. Ireland has a uniquely multi-skilled workforce, but how we identify and develop talent needs to evolve. We believe that a 'skills-first' blueprint is essential to secure Ireland's economic future. This approach moves away from viewing talent purely through titles or credentials, prioritizing instead the balance of confidence and competence needed to perform work well. Given shifting geopolitics and demographics, this Strategic Plan represents a profound commitment to future-proofing skills mobility, starting right from the factory floor."
Dave Flynn, Director of Business Networks at Skillnet Ireland, emphasised the national economic impact of the new roadmap: "The engineering sector sits at the centre of Ireland’s economic future since it underpins so many core elements of our economy and society like infrastructure delivery, advanced manufacturing, energy transition and digital transformation. Even so, it is one of the sectors most exposed to skills disruption, and in the Engineering Skillnet's new Strategy we can see the scale of this challenge including a projected shortfall of more than 20,000 engineers and the growing pressure to integrate digital and sustainable skills into more traditional roles. This is why the Engineering Skillnet strategy introduces a critical concept in the ‘skills-first’ approach to workforce development, which aligns strongly with national policy.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Engineering a Skills-First Future 2026-2029
Engineering a Skills-First Future 2026-2029 was developed by Engineering Skillnet in collaboration with industry leaders, learners, and the Engineering Skillnet Steering Committee. It builds on a robust approach to identifying talent gaps and mapping emerging technologies to ensure Ireland's engineering workforce remains agile, productive, and globally competitive.
About Skillnet Ireland
Skillnet Ireland is the national talent development agency of the Government of Ireland, responsible for advancing the competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of Irish businesses through enterprise-led talent development. Skillnet Ireland partners with 57 industry bodies, supporting over 24,000 businesses and more than 90,000 trainees annually, through its 70 Skillnet Business Networks and five National Initiatives, across most sectors and all regions in Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
