Despite the recession, some job vacancies continued to arise in 2010, the first annual Vacancy Overview Report from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) reveals.
The report shows that even though there is a large decrease in the availability of jobs in comparison to 2007, certain jobs continue to arise despite the larger unemployment problems in Ireland.
It shows that the demand is limited to experienced candidates with third-level qualifications combined with work experience and foreign-language skills.
The report gives a synopsis of the demand for labour in Ireland, highlighting current employment opportunities and identifying specific skills gaps within the labour market.
The employment opportunities which continue to exist for experienced personnel include professional-level jobs in information and communications technology (ICT), engineering and health and finance, customer care-related positions, technical support, and sales across various sectors.
Tough-to-fill vacancies
The results of the October 2010 Recruitment Agency Survey is also included in the report, which reveals employers have vacancies that are proving difficult to fill with suitable candidates. These include roles for ICT professionals, financial experts, engineering experts and healthcare professionals.
“The first annual Vacancy Overview Report from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs is an important report, which I warmly welcome as it provides clear evidence that vacancies still exist in Ireland’s labour market,” said Minister of State for Training and Skills Ciarán Cannon TD.
“We know that despite the present difficult economic circumstances, significant numbers of people are continuing to leave the Live Register because they have secured employment. The findings of this report highlight where vacancies currently exist in our economy and it offers hope to those individuals who continue to seek employment.
“Improving your skills levels by participating in education and training programmes is an important element in securing employment.”
Cannon encourages all those seeking employment to actively consider availing of the wide range of training and education programmes that are available.
Commenting on the report, Una Halligan, chairperson of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, said, “Vacancy Overview 2010 serves as a useful and timely tool for job seekers, career guidance counsellors and second and third-level students in making the most appropriate education and training choices. It also provides valuable insights for education and training providers which should assist them in aligning their programmes with labour market needs. This new report adds a further dimension to the EGFSN’s ongoing monitoring of the labour market in Ireland with a view to getting people back to work.”
The analysis of the vacancy data also indicates the effects of globalisation on the Irish labour market and the importance of foreign languages as an essential part of the skills portfolio of candidates across a range of occupational groups. It also emphasises the significance of incorporating work experience of a significant duration into the education and training process to improve employment prospects for new graduates and first-time entrants to the labour market.
The report was produced by the FÁS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit on behalf of the Expert Group on Future Skills Need. The report’s findings draw on a number of data sources held in the National Skills Database to deliver an overview and analysis of the demand for labour as measured by trends in advertised job vacancies from three sources: FÁS Jobs Ireland, www.irishjobs.ie and The Irish Times.
