The Economic and Social Research Institute has predicted that the Irish economy will create 35,000 jobs annually over the next six years, many of them high skilled.
However, in its latest forecast, it expects employment growth will be strongest in Dublin despite Government policy to develop other regions.
The ESRI has also expressed concern that there will not be an adequate supply of third level graduates to fill many of the new positions. It says the greatest growth will be in the service sector, generating a considerable demand for those with third level qualifications.
However, this comes at a time when the number of 15- 24-year-olds is set to drop by over 100,000, meaning fewer graduates.
FÁS has suggested the Government meet the shortfall by drawing up an immigration policy which is driven by Ireland's new skill requirements. The training body also says low skilled workers must be retrained, and more effort must be made to encourage middle-aged women back to work.
This latest forecast contains disappointing news for those living outside Dublin. With one third of the population living in the capital, employment growth is set to be strongest in the greater Dublin region, where demand for services will be greatest.
However, if the Government's Civil service decentralisation programme, and its policy of encouraging industry to locate in the so called Border, Midlands & West (BMW) region, are successful, the study predicts employment growth prospects will be more equal throughout the country.
