The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has today published ‘Digital Transformation: Assessing the Impact of Digitalisation on Ireland’s Workforce’, a new study on the impacts of the adoption of digital technologies over the years 2018 to 2023.
This study provides insights on the impacts that the adoption of digital technologies will have on workers in Ireland by sector, occupation and region, and highlights the opportunities and challenges that this will present.
The report finds that all sectors (excluding financial services and real estate) will be employing more people in 2023 than they do currently. It also predicts that employment in every occupational group will experience positive year-on-year change to 2023.
Despite this, the adoption of digital technologies will lead to a slowdown in employment growth. The report predicts this will result in 46,000 fewer jobs being created than would have been created without digitalisation.
The report claims that the existing national skills architecture is well-positioned to respond to the impacts of increased digitalisation. There are already a number of programmes in operation which are targeted at aiding the upskilling and reskilling of employees, such as the EXPLORE programme, Springboard+, Skillnet Ireland programmes and the Skills to Advance initiative.
The report cautions that, whilst the skills architecture is functioning well in our current economic climate, it is important to ensure that the systems in place can deal with the ongoing future challenges of digitalisation.
Commenting on the report, Minister of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys said, "This report is an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of digitalisation on Ireland’s economy, especially as we develop the ‘Future Jobs’ initiative, a new whole-of Government plan to secure Ireland’s economic success, starting in 2019."
She added, "Without a doubt, digital technologies will pose several challenges in the coming years. However, we are already addressing its impacts through existing enterprise strategies and initiatives like the new €500m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which is about securing the jobs of the future."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
