How Ireland predicts what skills it needs

There are two entities that research Ireland's skills needs:

• the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit
• the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs

What the SLMRU is and does

The Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) is located in SOLAS.

The SLMRU gathers, collects and analyses a range of datasets on skills demand and supply in Ireland. Datasets include:

• demand indicators (such as employment, job vacancies, employment permits)
• supply indicators (such as education and training awards, unemployment)

Each year, the SLMRU produces a report called the National Skills Bulletin. This report summarises the SLMRU’s data on skills demand and supply in Ireland. It also identifies where skills shortages and difficult-to-fill vacancies are happening.

The SLMRU also has a labour market intelligence portal (under ‘LMI’ tab).

How the SLMRU’s work helps

The work of the SLMRU:

• informs skills policy-making at national and regional level
• allows education and training providers in Ireland to make data-informed decisions on course content
• provides relevant labour market information for school-leavers and job-seekers making career decisions

The SLMRU’s reports also inform the work of:

• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• Department of Social Protection
• Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment
• National Skills Council
• Regional Skills Fora
• Expert Group on Future Skills Needs
• SOLAS
• Educational and training boards
• Higher Education Authority

What the EGFSN is

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is the independent body that advises the Government on the current and future skills needs of the Irish economy. The Secretariat to the EGFSN is located in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The EGFSN was created in 1997.

The EGFSN is composed of the key skills policy stakeholders in the public sector, as well as representation from the business and trade union communities:

• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
• Higher Education Authority
• SOLAS
• Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SOLAS)
• Enterprise Ireland
• IDA Ireland
• Ibec
• Irish Congress of Trade Unions

What the EGFSN does

The EGFSN carries out research studies of skills needs, by sector or occupation. These studies involve:

• complete reviews of international and domestic trends and data
• thorough engagement with stakeholders from across Government, industry and the education and training system
• identifying the nature and likely scale of skills needs over a 5 to 10-year time period, using skills demand forecasting

Based on the findings of these studies, the EGFSN recommends how the education and training system, as well as other sources of labour supply, can resolve skills needs.

How the EGFSN’s work helps

The skills needs that the EGFSN identifies inform the education and training sector, as well as other skills-supply action by the Government and industry.

The twice-a-year review of the employment permit eligibility lists also uses the EGFSN’s work.