A recent report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has found that many Irish workers are lacking in the appropriate skills needed to succeed in their jobs and are unprepared for changes in the rapidly evolving world of work.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, presented the findings on Wednesday in light of the "Year of Skills", an EU initiative aimed at promoting upskilling and reskilling for workers.

The Government commissioned report highlighted that workplaces in Ireland could be better designed to stimulate the use of workers’ skills through, for example, greater focus on high-performance work practices such as work flexibility and teamwork which is strongly associated with higher levels of productivity and better business performance.

While the share of adults with a college degree in Ireland is well above average, the OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Report found that participation in lifelong learning to facilitate essential upskilling falls far behind the top EU performers.

The report also highlights the critical challenges facing Ireland's skills ecosystem and the need for a significant leap forward to address these issues. It found that employers have grave concerns about skills and shortages in areas such as digital, STEM, and management, and highlighted that workers with low levels of education, women, and people with disabilities should have their skills better utilised in the labour market.

The report suggests that Irish workplaces could be better structured to stimulate the use of workers' skills and calls for stronger management capability among Ireland's SMEs. The OECD highlights the need for a joined-up, all-of-Government approach to help govern Ireland's complex skills system.

Speaking on the publication, Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan said that the report reinforced the unions position on the future of work.

“We have one of the most educated workforces in Europe, but the report indicates an out-dated model of work in place across the country. There are huge opportunities for employers to build a better work model for its employees. The four-day-week is a proven example of how you can utilise a staff’s skillset to the full while lowering stress and improving wellbeing. It is down to Government to engage with unions, employers, and employees to ensure our workforce are not left behind by the rest of Europe,” he said.

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