2016 off to a flying start with another big week of STEM jobs

15 Jan 2016

It’s been another big week for STEM jobs, and 2016 is looking better than ever.

Alongside massive announcements like Oracle’s 450-job bonanza, smaller announcements came in from other STEM companies, including 50 jobs at a hydroelectric plant, 70 jobs at a medtech company and 40 digital jobs with the HSE.

There’s never been a better time to be in a STEM career. Those of you already working in the STEM industry will be pleased to hear that IT and science sector salaries are expected to rise by up to 20pc this year.

For anyone who’s not already in the STEM industry, and whose interest was piqued by that last bit about the salaries, it should cheer you to hear that the ICT sector plans to increase staff across the board, and the government’s latest jobs plan – for the mid-east region – is set to create a significant raft of new jobs in tech manufacturing, digital media and renewable energy.

Furthermore, Enterprise Ireland has backed a fund that earmarks €40m for competitive job creation. No doubt, at least some of that will trickle into STEM.

This week was a mixed-bag in STEM education, with good news about iTunes U and Lego Education’s arrival in Ireland being balanced out by the revelation that rates of dropout in third-level STEM courses are abysmal.

But it’s worth persevering, as we learned this week when speaking to Padraig Ryan, a digital design engineer. Ryan travelled the world as an engineer, before eventually settling down to a great job in U-blox, Cork. Proof-positive that a career in STEM is worth pursuing.

And, finally, if you want to be a part of the team breaking exciting STEM stories like these, we have good news for you: we’re hiring! Silicon Republic is looking for a talented ad operations and client services executive to join our busy sales team.

For more information on any of these stories, follow the links below.

1. Oracle commits to Ireland’s cloud whirlwind with 450 jobs

Ireland is now the first choice in Europe for many tech giants’ expansions based on a proven track record, especially in cloud. This was proven when Oracle revealed 450 new jobs in its Dublin offices.

2. 50 jobs created at €650m Silvermines hydroelectric plant

As part of one of the largest renewable energy investments of the past few years, the former Silvermines mining site in north Tipperary is to be turned into a 360MW hydroelectric power plant, creating 50 permanent jobs at the site.

3. 70 new ‘highly-skilled jobs’ at app-maker 3D4Medical

3D4Medical, a maker of medical apps, is set to expand significantly over the next 18 months, with 70 highly-skilled roles coming on stream at its Blackrock HQ.

4. HSE to create 40 new digital jobs across Ireland in 2016

The digital transformation of the Health Service Executive (HSE) is well underway and some 40 new jobs are to be created by the HSE’s technology arm eHealth Ireland during 2016.

5. 2016 pay rises of up to 20pc in IT and science

Areas where skills shortages are most acute in Ireland – namely life sciences, IT and engineering – could see salary increases of up to 20pc this year, according to a new report.

6. ICT sector set to increase staff across the board

A new report into the Irish employment scene shows a remarkably optimistic set of ICT employers, with almost every business in the sector eyeing higher headcounts and salaries in 2016.

7. Tech and innovation will lead to 25,000 jobs in Ireland’s mid-east region

Up to 25,000 new jobs are being targeted in vital areas like agri-food, tech manufacturing, digital media, renewable energy and the equine industry in counties in Ireland’s mid-east region, traditionally the commuter belt feeding the capital.

8. €40m set aside for ‘competitive jobs fund’

A new Enterprise Ireland-backed fund of €40m has been created for “competitive” job creation as part of the Irish Government’s regional jobs plan push.

9. Apple’s first iTunes U service in Ireland embraced by 16 schools

Students across 16 schools, colleges and further education centres in Dublin are the first in the country to use Apple’s iTunes U learning resources to create an open learning environment.

10. St Pat’s College now using Lego to help teachers teach

Lego, the bricks that taught every ’90s kid how to build a brightly coloured hospital without the need for cement, planning permission or health and safety regulations, will now be used to help teach STEM to kids in Ireland.

11. High college drop-out rate in STEM causing concern

A new report to be released by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) shows that Irish students on maths-related courses at third-level are dropping like flies, with up to 80pc failing to progress to second year in some cases. The number of college dropouts is most prevalent in the field of computer science.

12. Irish design engineer migrates home for opportunities in tech

Padraig Ryan, a digital design engineer at Cork-based U-blox, left Ireland in 2009 to see the world. After spending four years in Canada – and getting married – he moved back home for family, and for the career opportunities in tech.

13. We’re hiring: Ad operations and client services executive

Up for a new challenge? Silicon Republic has an opening for an advertising operations and client services executive to work in-house as part of our busy sales team.

Looking for tech jobs in Ireland? Check out our Featured Employers section for information on companies hiring right now.

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Main image via Shutterstock

Kirsty Tobin
By Kirsty Tobin

Kirsty Tobin served as careers editor of Silicon Republic from 2015 up to August 2017. When she was younger, she had a dream where she started and won a fight with a T-Rex, so she’s pretty sure she kicked butt at this, too. Passions include eating all the cake, watching more TV than is healthy and sassy comebacks.

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