Report says inclusive adult education will open up career pathways
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A report from McKinsey & Company commissioned by Generation Ireland and supported by JPMorganChase has highlighted the need to close the country’s ICT skills gap through inclusive adult education.
Ireland’s tech sector is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating the creation of 40,000 new technology roles between 2025 and 2030, subject to the effects of international tariffs and AI market disruption. Yet, this growth is hindered by a formidable skills gap, as 83% of employers report significant difficulties in reskilling.
Despite current government initiatives in equipping a large segment of the population with the necessary education and training through industry-leading degrees and apprenticeships, there remain pockets of society where barriers to entry such as a lack of formal qualifications and systemic socioeconomic disadvantages still exist.
The report identified a multifaceted approach to upskilling and reskilling with an emphasis on lifelong learning could be an effective strategy. Key ideas included the creation of affordable and accessible educational pathways, engaging employers in co-creating training curricula, and providing targeted support for individuals at risk of exclusion from the workforce, thus meeting employer needs while fostering social mobility.
The report also highlighted the potential economic benefits of improved social mobility, with estimates suggesting that enhancing education and employment opportunities could increase GDP by 3-9% across European countries. In Ireland, addressing childhood disadvantage alone could recover approximately 4% of GDP annually.
Such programmes have demonstrated the potential to uplift individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, equipping them with the skills and confidence to access high-quality jobs and achieve economic independence.
Prioritising the inclusion of underrepresented groups and investing in scalable training programmes could also unlock the potential of its untapped talent pool, while simultaneously creating a more equitable society, and driving economic growth. The state stands to save approximately €3,500 per learner per year who attends a skills bootcamp, through increased tax contributions and reduced social welfare costs.
Ronan Harbison, executive director of Generation Ireland, said: “This report makes it clear: Ireland has the opportunity – and responsibility – to tackle its tech skills gap not just through innovation, but through inclusion. By opening up fast, targeted, and accessible education pathways for people who’ve been historically excluded from opportunity, we can unlock talent that already exists in our communities. At Generation Ireland, we believe social mobility is not just a moral imperative – it’s a smart economic strategy. This research validates our work and calls on all of us – government, employers, and educators – to act boldly and collaboratively to build a more equitable and future-ready workforce.”
Marc Hussey, senior country officer and head of banking in Ireland of JPMorganChase, said: “This report reinforces what we’ve long understood: that untapped talent exists across Ireland, and with the right support – targeted training, employer collaboration, and inclusive education pathways – we can close the tech skills gap while driving real social mobility.”
Nessa White, interim CEO of SOLAS, said: “We have made significant strides in advancing basic digital skills in Ireland, positioning us as a tech-driven economy and society, however we still have work to do around the digital divide to ensure that parts of our population are not excluded. Further Education and Training (FET) is uniquely positioned to drive an increase in the digital and tech competency of all citizens and we are working with our FET sector partners to ensure that we provide agile training programmes across the country, meeting the needs of enterprise, and ensuring that we have a resilient, dynamic and skilled workforce into the future.”
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