Minister attends Skillnet Ireland Talent Landscape Roadshow in Dundalk

^{Above: Eoin Morton, Head of Policy & Public Affairs, Skillnet Ireland; Teresa Hanratty, Network Manager, Learning Waves Skillnet; William Burke, Cluster General Manager for the Fairways and Gateway Hotels, Dundalk; Aidan Browne, Head of Innovation and Business Development, DkIT; Thomas McDonagh, Promoter, Dundalk Chamber Skillnet; Aoife O'Sullivan, Head of Network Development & Innovation, Skillnet Ireland; Mark Jordan, Chief Executive, Skillnet Ireland; Minister James Lawless; Erin McGreehan TD; Ken Finnegan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland; Paula Butterly, TD for Louth; Aidan Callan, Network Manager, Dundalk Chamber Skillnet, Shona Kelly, Network Manager, M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet; and Michael Dwyer, Skillnet Ireland Policy Research Advisor}

Minister  for  Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science,  James Lawless  TD, and  Louth TD, Deputy Erin  McGreehan, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education,  attended a Skillnet Ireland regional roadshow enterprise event  in  the Creative Spark  Hub,  Dundalk, last Friday 23 January.

A recent research report from Skillnet Ireland entitled  Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025: Future Skills Challenges of Irish Business,  authored by Ipsos B&A, shows a strong demand for upskilling among businesses in  counties  Louth,  Cavan  and Monaghan  with a particular focus on digitalisation and the green economy. 

The  enterprise  event  was  attended by a broad range of businesses from across the  North-East  region. Speaking at the event,  Minister  Lawless  said:  “Workforce development is at the heart of Ireland’s competitiveness in an era defined by digital transformation and the transition to a low carbon economy.

“The findings of this research show that businesses in the North-East are not just responding to change, they are actively leading the way in developing their talent. This Government, working closely with Skillnet Ireland, is committed to ensuring that employers and workers have access to the targeted, flexible upskilling they need to adapt, innovate and grow.”

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Deputy  Erin  McGreehan said:  “The findings presented today underline the scale of the skills transition facing Irish businesses in the years ahead. It is encouraging to see strong engagement from enterprises in preparing for changes driven by digitalisation and the green economy. Ensuring access to high-quality, responsive upskilling supports will be central to building a resilient workforce  in the  North-East  region  and sustaining enterprise growth across the economy.” 

The findings revealed that over one-third (36%) of businesses in Ireland’s  North-East  will require digital upskilling for their workforce in the next two to three years.

The report will inform Skillnet Ireland's strategic commitment to the regional development of businesses facing an increasingly digital future, and a low-carbon and sustainable economy, as well as aiming to bolster foreign direct investment through a focus on talent development.

Five Skillnet Business Networks are based in the  North-East, including  Dundalk Chamber Skillnet, M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet, Midland Border East Skillnet, Learning Waves Skillnet  and Positive2Work Skillnet.

Over  1,200 businesses and  5,800 individuals in the region  participate  in upskilling programmes with  Skillnet  Networks. 
Mark Jordan, Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive,  added: “The findings from Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025 reinforce the vital importance of industry-led upskilling to support business resilience and long-term growth.

“With significant demand for digital, sustainability and innovation skills, Skillnet  Ireland,  through  our Business Networks and National Initiatives  is supporting  companies to respond directly to change, strengthen productivity and build the talent base  required  to compete both nationally and internationally.” 

The  research, part of the national talent development agency’s  Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025: Future Skills Challenges of Irish Business  report, highlights the upskilling demands of companies in counties  Louth,  Cavan  and Monaghan  to remain competitive in Ireland’s rapidly evolving digital and green economy. 

96% of businesses surveyed in the  North-East  regard their business as strong or  very strong, 62% expect a change in their core skills in the next two to three years, while 72% say it is important that their employees have access to further education.

Over one-third  (35%) of businesses in the region said they will need sustainability upskilling for their workforce in the coming years.

Energy efficiency (81%),  innovation and creativity (79%)  and  circular economy  top the list of climate action skills needed by local enterprises, while digital skills such as Microsoft Office  proficiency  (72%),  cloud computing (62%)  and  Internet of Things  (51%)  are in particularly high demand. 

The research also notes that over half (53%) of businesses surveyed reported  that  time commitments prevent employees from upskilling, while 91% said increased dedicated industry support would help encourage engagement and uptake in upskilling. 

The greatest uptake of training by sector across the  North-East  came from the  Services  sector, followed by  Medtech/Pharma,  Food &  Drink,  Agri-business, Manufacturing, Retail &  Wholesale  and ICT/Technology. 

For business leaders, skills development plays  an important role in delivering key projects related to climate action, digitalisation,  innovation  and modern methods of construction.

The Skillnet Ireland Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025: Future Skills Challenges of Irish Business report, authored by Ipsos B&A, has built on the inaugural  Ireland’s Talent Landscape  study of last year.

The  Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2025: Future Skills Challenges of Irish Business report is available to view here.