Discover the crucial findings from technological university of the Shannon: Ireland faces a stark skills gap in the construction sector, threatening its climate and housing targets. Learn about the push for 120,000 new skilled workers , the need for re-skilling , and innovative strategies to meet these challenges sustainably.
New Findings from technological university of the Shannon underscore a critical gap in Ireland’s construction workforce , which could jeopardize the nations housing and environmental objectives. Ireland needs to recruit up to 120,000 new skilled workers in construction and retrain 164,000 existing workers by 2030 to meet its ambitious goals.
Despite a significant increase in construction and engineering courses, student participation remains low, with a decline in some apprenticeship enrollments. There’s notable imbalance in trades such as plumbing and carpentry , which are crucial but lacking sufficient apprentices. Over 60% of apprenticeship participants are in the electrical field, pointing to a need for broader skill development.
The report highlights the necessity for strategies that include not only attracting and training more individuals for the construction sector but also optimizing the use of existing buildings, implementing large scale renovations , and adopting innovative building methods. These strategies are vital for creating homes efficiently while keeping within the carbon budget.
Dermot Carey from the CIF underscores the labor and skill issues facing the industry, advocating for a cultural shift to make apprenticeships and traineeships more appealing and diverse. Sinead Hughes from the IGBC calls for a comprehensive approach to address the climate and housing challenges , emphasizing the importance of up skilling in sustainable building practices.
Padraig Boland from LOETB points out the readiness of the Irish further education and training sector to meet these construction skill demands, with a focus on Eco-friendly building practices. Seamus Hoyne from technological university of the Shannon calls for greater collaboration across seamus hoyne from technological university of the Shannon calls for greater collaboration across disciplines to improve construction processes and tackle climate change effectively.
This research is part of the build up skills Ireland (BUSI2030) project, a collaborative initiative involving academic research and industry engagement aimed at developing at national upskilling road man for sustainability in the built environment. The road maps first draft is expected to be released by December 2023 for public feedback.