National Skills Bulletin 2021

The Skills & Labour Market Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS is delighted to announce the release of the latest National Skills Bulletin. This is the seventeenth in an annual series of reports and the fifth to be produced on behalf of the National Skills Council (NSC). The Bulletin aims to assist policy formulation in the areas of employment, education/training, and immigration (particularly the sourcing of skills which are in short supply in the Irish and EU labour market from the EEA); it also aims to inform career guidance advisors, students and other individuals making career and educational choices.

The impact of COVID-19 was not evenly distributed across the labour market in Ireland. Sectors such as accommodation and food were particularly affected. Employment fell for those in part-time roles, with lower levels of education (i.e. below third-level) and for those in operative and elementary roles (e.g. cleaners, taxi drivers, waiters, kitchen assistants, security guards). In contrast, employment increased in sectors such as ICT, finance and public administration. The number of persons in employment with third-level qualifications increased, as did the number of persons in higher skilled roles such as managers and associate professionals.

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