High-tech sector better for jobs than traditional areas, says IDA

IRISH STUDENTS should switch their focus from traditional careers such as medicine, law and teaching, to emerging industries such as technology and bio-science, which offer better job opportunities, the head of IDA Ireland has said.

His comments came as the agency, which is responsible for attracting international companies to Ireland, reported a record year for foreign direct investment.

More than 13,000 jobs were created by international companies operating in Ireland last year. However, 7,000 jobs were shed by IDA-supported companies during the same period, bringing the net increase in jobs to just over 6,000. This compares to a net increase of 1,400 in 2010.

The majority of the new jobs were in the field of technology, biotech and life sciences, prompting the IDA to urge Irish students to consider job opportunities when making education and career choices.

“We have visibility on what jobs are going to be in demand,” IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary pointed out. “For example, 40 per cent of new jobs over the next few years will be in the field of technology. In fact, we believe the number of new jobs last year would have been higher if the skills set had been different.”

His comments were echoed by Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton. “Career opportunities in the new Irish economy are in very different areas – technology, science, software development,” he said, adding that students beginning the CAO application process should “recognise the change that is happening in the Irish economy”.

The IDA’s upbeat report was published as Live Register figures showed a mild improvement in the unemployment situation in December.

The number on the Live Register fell by 3,300 last month, bringing the total number of people signing on to 443,200, an improvement on the two preceding months.

The standardised unemployment rate now stands at 14.3 per cent, a slight fall from 14.4 per cent in November. However, the figures show a monthly increase in the number of long-term unemployed.

Some 41 per cent of all claimants are classified as long-term unemployed, with the number of people unemployed for more than one year jumping by 25,474 between November and December to 180,798.

The Small Firms Association said the Live Register figures highlighted “the huge challenges that are being faced to get people back to work”. Fianna Fáil called on the Government to come forward with “an ambitious jobs strategy” early in 2012.

Mr Bruton said yesterday the Government intended to publish its job strategy by the end of this month.

The 2011 figures from the IDA show 148 investments from non-Irish companies were won last year, with 61 new companies investing in Ireland for the first time.