In a research study conducted by Solas’s Skills and Labour market research Unity in November 2023, recruiters were queried about the scarcity of certain skills. Solas’s survey identified that Ireland’s hunt for talent continues to be tough and fiercely competitive, with recruiters often struggling to fill a number of specific roles.
The report underlined several sectors witnessing a deficit in skills, notably involving Information and Communication Technology (ICT), life sciences, construction, health and finance roles.
The details in the report revealed the following:
– For science, technology, and engineering domains, 41 per cent of recruiters faced challenges in hiring. Roles in ICT, life sciences, engineering, regulatory and compliance, and procurement were particularly tough to fill.
– Construction sector roles remained vacant with 31 per cent of recruiters finding it difficult to hire quantity surveyors, engineers, construction drivers, carpenters, welders, glaziers/fitters and safety officers.
– Similarly, transport and logistics industry also faced hurdles with 11 per cent having difficulty recruiting drivers, logistics and warehouse operation managers, supply-chain analysts and procurement managers.
– A smaller number of recruiters, 5 per cent, found it hard to fill roles in healthcare while 7 per cent struggled with finance-related positions.
– Other reports of skill shortages came from sectors such as management including hospitality and commercial, customer care requiring multilingual skills, sales and marketing managers, chefs, waiting staff, and cleaning staff positions.
Interestingly, the report showed that employers are conscious of the fierce competition for talented individuals and are willing to consider less-experienced candidates to fill the gaps. This could potentially lead to a greater number of entry-level jobs for new graduates, thereby having a positive ripple effect.