High-technology firms need you

School leavers and other job seekers must be made more aware of the job opportunities available to those with computer, language and technical skills in the tele-services, electronics and software industries, Forfas has said.

The success of IDA Ireland in attracting multinationals such as Intel, Hewlett-Packard and IBM, and the growth of Irish-based firms such as Iona and CBT, mean there is a spiralling demand for employees in the high-tech sector.

Failure to respond to the emerging skill needs could constrain future investment and the Government has already created over 3,000 education places to meet the demand.

"The places are agreed. We now want people to go in and take them up," says Mr Colm Regan, executive director of Forfas, the industrial policy advisory body.

An estimated 2,000 jobs per year will be available for technicians in the electronics sector, based on growth in existing companies. The industry, one of the fastest growing in Ireland, needs electrical, electronic, mechanical, production, manufacturing, engineering, plastics and instrumentation technicians with plenty of opportunities for women.

"The jobs are growing faster than the rate of technicians coming out of college," says Ms Una Halligan, public affairs manager at Hewlett-Packard. "There is a need to persuade students that they are good jobs to do and to raise awareness among girls. There is a perception that it's a man's job."

Girls make up less than 10 per cent of those on diploma courses for technicians with many discouraged by the mistaken belief that they need Leaving Cert honours maths in order to be eligible for courses.

Substantial job opportunities also exist in the software sector where total employment is expected to rise by 10,000 to 25,000 over the next three years.

Tele-services is another major growth area with 5,500 jobs likely to be created over the next three years. Those with language skills will be particularly in demand although there are also opportunities for those who speak only English, says Mr David Cornick, customer support centre director for IBM Ireland.

Forfas says there is a need to promote science and technology subjects in schools generally and to encourage students to consider alternatives to the traditional courses of study such as law, medicine and the humanities.

It would also like to see the school leaving age raised to 17 and personal computers linked to the Internet in every classroom.

Third-level participation in Ireland should be raised to 65 per cent from 50 per cent and there should be increased vocational and apprenticeship training, Forfas says.

It says there is a need for ongoing forecasts of skill needs and supply and for businesses and educational institutions to co-operate if Ireland is to respond to the emerging skills need.

Forfas also wants more investment in education and says it would like to see companies putting a greater focus on continuing education.

Irish firms currently spend 1.5 per cent of payroll on training but Forfas says it would like to see that rise closer to the EU average of 3 per cent.