From:Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, will today convene senior leaders from Government, industry and education for a national roundtable focused on tackling emerging skills gaps in Ireland's professional services sector and ensuring the workforce is equipped for the next decade of growth.

The Skills for Professional Services Roundtable, taking place in Dublin, comes as the sector faces significant change driven by digitalisation, demographic trends and evolving workforce requirements. The event will examine how Ireland can respond to emerging skills gaps and ensure it has the talent needed to support one of the country's most important and fastest-evolving sectors.

Professional, scientific and technical activities currently employ almost 200,000 people, accounting for approximately 7% of total employment in Ireland, with employment expected to grow to over 215,000 jobs by 2030.

Opening the discussion at William Fry's offices in Dublin this morning, Minister Lawless will tell leaders from across the sector that Ireland cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to talent and skills:

"The countries that win the race for investment and innovation will be the countries that win the race for talent. My priority is to ensure Ireland continues to be one of them.

"Ireland's professional services sector is one of our greatest economic strengths, employing almost 200,000 people and supporting growth right across the economy. But we cannot assume that success will continue without investing in the skills that will drive the next decade of growth.

"The reality is that the competition for talent is intensifying. Employers are looking for people with the right combination of technical, digital and professional skills, and that demand is only going to increase.

"If we want Ireland to remain a global leader for professional services, we need to stay ahead of the curve. That means identifying skills gaps early and responding faster.

"This roundtable is about bringing together the people who understand these challenges best and agreeing practical actions to ensure our workforce is ready for the opportunities ahead."

The discussion will explore current and future skills requirements across the professional services sector, including legal services, financial services, accountancy, management consultancy, engineering, scientific activities and other knowledge-intensive industries.

Recent labour market analysis highlights growing demand for a combination of technical and transferable skills, including digital capabilities, data analysis, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability. Participants will also discuss how education and training systems can respond more quickly to changing skills needs and support lifelong learning throughout workers' careers.

The roundtable will examine how existing initiatives, including apprenticeships, Springboard+, Skillnet Ireland programmes, micro-credentials, Further Education and Training provision and higher education pathways, can help address emerging skills needs and strengthen workforce capacity.

Delegates will be asked to identify the most significant skills gaps facing the sector, the barriers to addressing those gaps, and the practical actions that Government and industry can take together over the next 12 to 24 months.

Outcomes from the event will inform ongoing engagement between Government, employers and education providers, with a focus on ensuring Ireland continues to develop the skilled workforce needed to support enterprise growth, innovation and long-term economic competitiveness.