THE FUTURE OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC WORKFORCE

The future of the Irish Republic Workforce



The future of the Irish Republic Workforce

Introduction

Ireland could encounter a skills shortage over the coming years if we move towards more sustainable development without training our workforce adequately in green skills and technologies, warns Comhar Sustainable Development Council (SDC). (Pezzey, 2002, 36)

The future of the Irish Republic Workforce

This is a report examining the labour force skills required to build a 'green economy' for Ireland. The report entitled Skills and Training for a Green New Deal, suggests significant jobs potential in areas such as retrofitting of the existing housing stock and renewable energy. However, it highlights the need to produce more specialist graduates and hone the skills of the existing labour force so that the full potential of emerging green areas of the economy can be realised.

"In some cases, (Pezzey, 2002, 36) incentives designed to increase sustainable activity in the economy are insufficient to ensure that we have the skills to deliver such activity," said Professor Frank Convery, Chairperson of Comhar SDC (pictured). "Businesses - particularly those operating on a small scale - do not have the resources to upgrade their employee skills to take advantage of a green wave. For this reason, green skills training must be integrated into existing programmes that are operating within the formal and informal education and training sectors. “Unless a concerted effort is made to upskill our existing and prospective labour force, Ireland risks having a skills shortage scenario or - worse still - risks missing the potential boom that a green economy can offer. This new report from Comhar SDC follows its proposals for a Green New Deal, published last year. Under a Green New Deal, Ireland would need to move towards becoming a low-carbon and resource-efficient society. This, says ...