Uncompetitive workforce could 'be left behind'

The Republic's workforce will become uncompetitive and will ultimately be "left behind" unless dramatic action is taken on lifelong learning and training, a leading businessman said yesterday.

Eoin O'Driscoll, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland and chairman of the Enterprise Strategy Group warned that, without investment in education in Ireland, many of the existing skills in the workforce would become obsolete by 2015.

"Our skilled workforce, which has been a key attraction for multinational companies locating here, will no longer be capable of meeting the demands of modern, global companies," said Mr O'Driscoll.

"The bar for international competition is being raised very rapidly and Ireland's workforce is faced with being left behind in the new emerging environment," he added. In an address to the American Chamber's annual US Independence Day lunch, he outlined a number of facts which he said "speak for themselves in terms of the challenges ahead".

As much as 80 per cent of the Republic's workforce of 2015 is already in the labour force, he said.

Within this current workforce, according to Mr O'Driscoll, about 30 per cent has no leaving certificate qualification.

Furthermore, he said that the Republic ranks only 15 out of 30 OECD countries for the number of 15 to 64-year-olds who have degree-level qualifications.

"Our universities and third-level colleges must invest in producing the best graduates. The system must change from one that is producer-centred to one that is learner-centred," said Mr O'Driscoll. He warned that employees needed to be more flexible and productive in the face of the restructuring that would take place.

He said the onus of responsibility also lies on employers, who must facilitate life-long learning for people already in the workforce.

"Knowledge should not be limited to within the four walls of an educational institution. Too many companies view education and training as a cost rather than as an investment," Mr O'Driscoll added.

Mr O'Driscoll's challenge to Government and industry drew heavily on the themes of the Enterprise Strategy Group report, which was published last year as a new template for the Republic's industrial policy.

Some commentators believe that progress on delivering the objectives of the report has since been too slow.

Also addressing the American Chamber yesterday was the US ambassador to Ireland, James Kenny, who paid tribute to the economic progress made by the Republic over the past few decades. Much of this development has been made possible by Irish people's growing sense of pride in their own abilities and stature, he told the Chamber lunch.

Mr Kenny also paid tribute to what he said was the growing enthusiasm with which Irish people have been celebrating the Independence Day holiday.