Ireland Faces 2,200+ Surveyor Shortage by 2029 Amid Infrastructure Boom

Ireland faces a projected shortage of over 2,200 surveyors between 2026 and 2029, according to a report for the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) titled «Employment Outlook for the Surveying Profession 2026-2029». This deficit threatens the delivery of ambitious infrastructure plans, residential construction, and the transition to a low-carbon economy, which are national imperatives.

Outgoing SCSI president Gerard O’Toole noted this figure is a conservative estimate, as it excludes opportunities outside the built environment, student attrition, and graduates working overseas. A survey of SCSI members, researched by Róisín Murphy of Technological University Dublin, found 60 percent believe the industry isn't attracting enough graduates. Incoming SCSI president Tomás Kelly emphasized the urgent need to increase third-level college enrollment and expand pathways like apprenticeships.

The shortage isn't limited to entry-level professionals; legacy gaps from the post-2008 downturn continue to affect the availability of experienced surveyors, with 76 percent of surveyed members confirming this. Kelly also highlighted the need for the profession to adapt to new technologies like AI, drones, and sensor-based measurement, which are becoming integral. The report also stresses the importance of office-based work for recent graduates to develop critical transversal (soft) skills such as communication, collaboration, and leadership, especially given potential limitations in in-person interaction during Covid-affected learning.