The Irish economy will need 300,000 educated immigrants by 2010 to keep up with demand for a higher-skilled workforce at a time when the Irish student population is falling, a report said today.
In its latest analysis of employment trends, the ESRI predicts the labour force will grow to 1,963,000 in 2010, an annual average increase of 2 per cent - half the rate experienced at the height of the boom.
However, the bulk of new jobs will be in the professions and services, while demand for manual jobs in manufacturing and building will contract.
As the demand for graduates rises, the ESRI's forecasting model indicates the economy will need 195,000 graduates at a time when the population of 15- to 24 year-olds will fall by 15 per cent.
When the effect of retirements, deaths and people leaving the labour force is considered, the ESRI research suggests an inflow of 300,000 people with third-level qualifications will be needed to make up the shortfall.
The report suggests the pattern of employment growth will be skewed in favour of Dublin as the centre of professions and services. Growth in the greater Dublin area is expected to be 2.5 per cent as against 1.5 per cent in the rest of the country.
The ageing of the population will see rising demand for carers of the order of 6 to 8 per cent across, while demand for professionals will grow by around 3 to 5 per cent.