39% of Skills Obsolete by 2030: Ireland Faces Lifelong Learning Challenge
Workplaces are rapidly changing due to AI and sustainability, with 39% of job skills expected to be obsolete by 2030. Ireland faces a significant challenge requiring a shift to continuous lifelong learning for all workers. Cost, time, and awareness are key barriers, necessitating shared responsibility among learners, employers, and the State to scale flexible learning options like microcredentials.
Artificial intelligence, sustainability, and governance are transforming workplaces, with the World Economic Forum projecting 39% of current job skills will be obsolete or transformed by 2030. Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl, head of the National Institute for Digital Learning at DCU, considers this a conservative estimate, expecting a higher need for skills renewal in Ireland due to its knowledge-intensive sectors and sensitivity to global chains. She emphasizes a shift from one-off retraining to continuous lifelong learning.
Alison Hodgson, CIPD Ireland country director, notes the impact on the labor market will be gradual, spanning decades, similar to the telephone's introduction. She observes a shift from a pyramid structure of jobs to a diamond, with fewer entry-level roles and more mid-level positions. Participation in learning now spans all age groups, though Solas data shows a drop after age 55, highlighting a need to engage older workers.
Barriers to upskilling include cost, particularly for lower-paid workers and SMEs, and uncertainty about necessary skills. Providers are offering flexible options like online and blended learning. The cost burden, financial and otherwise, should be shared by learners, employers, and the State. Hodgson suggests employers cover time off for learning, the government funds programs like Skillnet, and individuals learn both on and off the clock.
Microcredentials, short accredited modules, are becoming central, with growing employer awareness. However, Nic Giolla Mhichíl notes they are not yet on par with longer qualifications in some sectors. While the 70/20/10 model suggests most learning is on-the-job, Hodgson sees this shifting to 90% experiential. Solas observes workers combining microcredentials creatively. The challenge is to scale the existing learning infrastructure quickly and fairly.