There will be too many low-skilled workers in the Irish economy by 2020 unless retraining programmes are put in place, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin warned today.
Mr Martin said over half a million people in the Irish workforce must be given further training to take-up high-skilled jobs.
Speaking at a conference at Dublin's Farmleigh House organised by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, Mr Martin said: "Without significant further education and training of those already in employment, there will be too many low-skilled people in the labour force in 2020 that won't be able to access employment opportunities.
An analysis of demographic and economy by the Expert Group forecasts has estimated around 950,000 additional positions in the workforce will need to be filled between now and 2020.
Around 630,000 are likely to come from young people completing formal education, another 310,000 will probably be filled through immigration and individuals returning to work.
Anne Heraty, chairwoman of the Expert Group, said: "Ireland has an opportunity to drive economic development through building skills capability. It is important that we have a sufficient supply of highly-skilled individuals with third- and fourth-level qualifications to drive enterprise development.
"At the same time it is equally important that we upskill those that currently have the lowest skill level. Unless there is significant upskilling within the workforce, some people will be left behind and find it difficult to access job opportunities in the knowledge economy of the future."