Keeping Ireland at the top of the Technology Value Chain
15.08.2007
There is currently a shortfall of 14,000 skilled IT workers inIreland. For a country that is heralding itself as a knowledge economy this is a serious issue that needs to be properly addressed if Ireland is to continue its progress up the technology value-chain and garner more value-adding technology employment from overseas. However, the shortfall in skilled IT staff is also having a detrimental effect on indigenous Irish IT companies’ growth. The recent ‘Green Card’ legislation enacted by the Irish Government was sent to address the issue by actively targeting on high-value jobs and skills shortages. However experts within Irish industry believe that the new legislation is making it harder for Irish organizations to source qualified non-EU candidates. The reason for this is due to the fact that candidates need to go to the EU first. Delays in lead times have also been cited as inhibitors to the success of the Green Card legislation. With recent reports citing that there is a decline in the number of Irish students taking Maths and Science at higher level, accessing skilled and qualified workers from non-EU states could prove to be crucial in keeping Ireland inc competitive. Click here for full report
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