Ireland Sees Growing Tech Demand, Construction Boom, and US Project Shifts Amid EU Digital Skills Gap

David Dowling, Commercial Director of Cronin Group, observes growing demand for tech skills, especially in AI, and continued hiring in medical and construction sectors, often from overseas. This aligns with the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure report and retrofit targets. However, he also notes some large Irish building projects are on hold, with some reportedly moving to the US due to geopolitical shifts.

Eurofound’s report highlights ICT’s critical importance to Ireland, with one in ten Dublin workers in the sector. The report, «IT Sector in Focus: Evolution of the EU’s Digital Workforce», due this summer, will address AI, cybersecurity, and the EU27’s digital independence. It finds IT employment growing faster than overall employment but faces severe labor shortages, particularly in specialized roles like cybersecurity, AI, and cloud computing, with 57% of firms reporting difficulties filling vacancies in 2024.

The EU aims for 20 million ICT specialists by 2030, a target unlikely to be met at current growth rates. This necessitates mobilizing «extra sources of supply of digital talent.» The pipeline is constrained by academic training requirements and insufficient young people pursuing STEM subjects. Labour migration from non-EU countries is increasingly satisfying demand.

Eurofound also flags the underrepresentation of women in Europe’s digital workforce; fewer than one in five EU ICT specialists are women. Female ICT specialists report less positive work experiences, including lower perceived fair pay, less access to training, higher work intensity, and less influence over work organization. Addressing this gender gap is crucial for equity and economic necessity, as failing to attract women means the EU operates with less than three-quarters of its potential ICT specialist talent pool.