Northern Ireland Needs 5,000 Additional Workers Annually To Drive Economic Growth

• The findings show a potential skills gap that could impede the region’s economic progress.

According to a recent assessment, Northern Ireland’s economy will require more than 5,000 additional jobs per year to maintain growth.

The findings show a potential skills gap that could impede the region’s economic progress.

According to BBC News, a paper by Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre details the future capabilities that companies will want, as well as the potential labor shortage.

According to the analysis, an estimated 8,000 additional jobs will need to be generated each year over the next decade to satisfy high-growth targets.

However, a scarcity of 5,440 workers per year may limit the region’s capacity to fulfill these objectives. The report indicates the need for more foreign workers to meet demand.

High-demand jobs and expanding sectors
The report predicts strong increase in high-value roles, including data analytics, cyber security, and IT.

• As previously said, these occupations often require more qualifications and pay more for their productivity. The health industry is likely to see the greatest overall gain in employment as a result of increased government investment targeted at alleviating the burden on the health-care system. Care workers and home carers, in particular, are expected to gain more than 4,000 employment over the next decade.
• In contrast, retail employment is forecast to remain constant, with minimal growth anticipated due to factors such as automation and the advent of internet shopping.

Anna Dukelow, an economics student at Ulster University, indicated that understanding employer demand helped her decide what to study. “Business was up there with the undersupplied so I thought I would go with one of the STEAM subjects,” Dukelow recalled. She stated that many of her friends had fled, but she had elected to stay and pursue her career in Northern Ireland.

Fellow student Rachel Huddleston, 21, underlined the significance of balancing personal interests with commercial demand. “I think it’s just finding that balance between being good at what you’re doing, but also knowing what is out there and what opportunities there are,” Huddleston told me.

Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, acknowledged the problems that come with an ageing population and the need for training.

“The number of young people coming into the labour market isn’t enough to meet the increased demand for jobs,” she informed us.

Archibald emphasized the need of addressing the shortage by assisting individuals who are experiencing impediments to employment or training, as well as upskilling those who are already employed. She also stated that Brexit had reduced recruitment opportunities from the EU, making local solutions even more important.
This analysis from Ulster University is a sharp reminder that tackling worker shortages in Northern Ireland is critical to the region’s economic prosperity.