Friday, October 2nd next sees the return of Manufacturing Day Ireland, the Ibec initiative designed to spotlight the vast range of career opportunities on offer from the State’s manufacturing sector. On the day, manufacturing companies across the country will open their doors to students, educators, jobseekers and local communities, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the industry really works.
“Following the success of our inaugural event last year, we are launching Manufacturing Day Ireland 2026 with a clear focus on the future of our workforce,” says Ibec executive director, membership and sectors, Sharon Higgins. “While the manufacturing sector supports over 240,000 jobs across the country, our research shows that just 39 per cent of parents are aware of the career opportunities available to the next generation.”
The research, carried out by Amárach Research on behalf of Ibec in September 2025, also found a direct link between awareness of the opportunities and the likelihood of parents to encourage their children to avail of them. “Those most likely to encourage a manufacturing career claim to be aware of the opportunities (84 per cent) and, to a lesser extent, have experience of working in the sector (58 per cent). This suggests [that] increasing awareness of the range of roles and career paths could help secure greater engagement with school/college leavers,” the research report stated.
“By opening up manufacturing and production facilities across Ireland on Friday, 2nd October, businesses have a practical opportunity to bridge this [awareness] gap, challenge outdated stereotypes, and actively secure the long-term talent pipeline our industry needs to grow,” Higgins adds.
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On the day, manufacturers across the country will be hosting factory and site tours; interactive and hands-on demonstrations; career talks for school leavers, graduates, and career changers; and real stories from Ireland’s makers and innovators.
Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the Irish economy representing over a third of the State’s GDP, notes Higgins, yet despite its scale and sophistication, the sector is still often misunderstood and seen through a lens of outdated stereotypes. However, today’s factories are smart, sustainable, and people-driven – where women and men work side-by-side in roles that demand creativity, problem-solving capabilities, and digital fluency, she points out.
Manufacturing Day Ireland aims to reframe perceptions of the sector, positioning it as a place where diverse talent is welcomed and needed.
The initiative sets out to achieve that by, among other things, creating a broader understanding of the sector and the wide range of industries it represents including food and drink, pharma and medical devices, biotech, precision engineering, electronics, chemicals, and construction products.
‘Most large manufacturing enterprises are located outside of Dublin and contribute to the prosperity of towns and communities throughout the country. People don’t have to move to find exciting and rewarding careers in the industry’
Also highlighted will be the wide range of roles on offer. These are not restricted to factory floor or production line jobs, according to Higgins, but include administrative, logistics, quality control, engineering, marketing, sales, accounting and managerial roles.
Career pathways and progression opportunities are also important. It is possible to enter the sector at shop-floor level and progress to other areas by availing of the learning and development programmes offered by companies in the sector, as well as by Skillnet Business Networks. These include stackable microcredentials – short, accredited, skills-focused courses that can be completed separately and accumulated over time to achieve qualifications such as certificates, diplomas or degrees.
Opportunities for progression are not limited to this country, and Higgins notes that Irish employees of multinational manufacturing companies often move on to manage other sites around the world.
Reiterating the economic importance of the sector, Higgins highlights its regional spread. “Most large manufacturing enterprises are located outside of Dublin and contribute to the prosperity of towns and communities throughout the country,” she says. “People don’t have to move to find exciting and rewarding careers in the industry.
“Also, when manufacturing does well, Ireland does well,” she continues. “The industry, in common with other sectors, faces skills shortages. That’s why it’s so important to secure the talent pipeline for the industry. If it doesn’t get the skilled people it requires, the industry won’t be able to maintain its global competitiveness.
“Manufacturing Day Ireland is a unique opportunity to open minds as well as doors to new possibilities and career opportunities. From cutting-edge technology and sustainability to world-class products and career pathways, it shines a spotlight on the people and processes driving one of Ireland’s most innovative sectors.”
