High value and highly rewarding careers in manufacturing

Manufacturing remains one of Ireland’s top-performing sectors, with exports reaching a record €165.2 billion last year. Ibec director of membership and sectors Sharon Higgins points to the importance of its economic contribution: “The manufacturing sector employs 260,000 people directly accounting for 12 per cent of total employment in the economy, contributes €12.5 billion in wages and employment taxes annually, €4.4 billion in corporation tax, and €1.7 billion in capital expenditure. It is a key driver of the rural economy with companies based throughout Ireland. It is also a highly resilient sector.”

In addition, Ireland’s level of employment in high-technology manufacturing, as a share of total employment, is now the highest in the European Union, with 29 per cent of jobs in high-technology sectors. This is four times the EU average.

The Manufacturing in Ireland 2022 – Navigating Turbulence, Sustaining Growth report, published by Ibec, highlighted the modern nature of the sector and the careers it offers. “Manufacturing is mostly a modern game, with leading-edge technologies deployed in high-tech, ultra-modern, purpose-built facilities. Careers in manufacturing are highly skilled, high value and highly rewarding, with Irish employees and executives achieving great things on daily basis that resonate globally,” it stated.

The report also found that access to skilled labour is a key priority for the industry in the year ahead. Thirty-eight per cent of the companies surveyed for the report said they expect to increase employee numbers in the year ahead. This reflects the very strong investment intentions exhibited by firms with 62 per cent intending to increase investment in environmental sustainability, 56 per cent planning to increase investment in digitalisation and advanced manufacturing, and almost half (47 per cent) expecting to increase overall capital investment in the year ahead.

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Among the key recommendations contained in the report is the development of a national skills strategy for manufacturing. The aim of this strategy would be to identify the next generation skills required to support Industry 5.0 and invest in targeted supports and training programmes to ensure the industry has access to the necessary pipeline of diverse talent. It also calls for greater support for lifelong learning for the innovative manufacturing sector.

Overall, the report reveals a very health manufacturing sector which will continue to offer excellent career opportunities during 2023 and beyond.