As well as constantly requiring a steady flow of talent from third-level courses in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem), manufacturing now faces a shortage of skills in less traditional areas.
Digitalisation is one key area where there is a skills gap, says Siobhán Dean, deputy director of BioPharmaChem Ireland. “Green skills and sustainability are particularly important, as are robotics and automation skills,” she adds.
“We live in an era where there is a lot of data but how do we visualise it and tell the story of the data? On top of engineering and science, those are skills that are proving increasingly necessary. The Stem pipeline still needs to be built but that extra level is required as well.”
Dean’s organisation is one of several acting to address the issue, with a particular eye on apprenticeships and lifelong learning. One initiative, BioPharmaChem Skillnet, in association with Skillnet Ireland, “is involved in examining the skill gaps and working with industry to develop programmes to help”.
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“Things are moving fast when it comes to engagement between industry and academia,” says Dean. “That’s really important and it’s important to keep on developing more apprenticeships. University of Limerick, for example, has developed a logistics apprenticeship.”
There is an increasing need for skills around artificial intelligence (AI), says Áine Brassill, supply chain and operations transformation partner at PwC Ireland.
“Today, we are seeing organisations in particular focus on AI skills, ensuring their people can benefit from the opportunities of AI to increase their productivity but also understand the risks of AI so that it is operated in a safe environment,” she says.
“Future competitiveness will be as much about the quality of your people, that they can use the latest technologies, processes, systems and strategies.”
Recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to upskilling is key to raising standards.
“Third level isn’t for everybody. We need to create more and different pathways into skills. Lifelong learning is so important; it’s about encouraging individuals to invest in themselves,” says Dean.
“We’ve found with apprenticeships that there is a wide mix of levels and generations going into them. It’s quite different to what apprenticeships used to be coming out of school.”
Helen McMahon, skills policy and strategic partnership lead at Enterprise Ireland, sees promising signs in efforts made to broaden the scope of upskilling.
“Significant work has been done to date in the skills ecosystem to address skills needs in logistics and supply chains,” she says. “The key area to focus on is to build on the skills interventions that have been developed, and support companies to navigate skills provision to identify the right programme and support available in the system to meet their needs.”
Ensuring that the right worker, current or future, can find the right pathway requires improving awareness of the training options on offer.
“The Government needs to look more at communication. There needs to be more awareness of the different avenues and careers that are out there,” says Dean.
“We’re entering a difficult era for career advice. My son is 13 and the career he might do may not even have been created yet. The focus on how funding is allocated is important, to ensure both third level and lifelong learning are addressed to adapt to this.”
Still, Dean is confident that the matter can be addressed and that third level institutions are playing their part in adapting to the shifting demands of the market.
“Academia has always been good at responding to needs. They have long been open to listening to industry and developing programmes. There is probably still more to be done to speed up that integration of programmes,” she says.
“We need more collaboration between Government, academia and industry to address skills needs. It’s there but we need more of it and to focus on getting better at communicating the different pathways out there.”
