Job opportunities exist in most segments of the Irish labour market despite the decline in employment, according to a new report.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs today published the 2011 update of the National Skills Bulletin, its annual review of employment trends and demand for skills in Ireland.
The update found that in several areas skill shortages continue to exist.
The rate of deterioration in the labour market during 2010 was slower than in 2009, according to the report.
Commenting on the report findings, Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon said, 'It has never been so critical to provide information on the employment trends and the areas of current and future skills demand.
'While it is hard to reconcile high unemployment with skills shortages it is critical that we maintain our focus on ensuring that our labour force is equipped with the skills for current and future jobs.'
'The Skills Bulletin highlights that vacancies are found in occupations associated with high replacement rates such as clerical, sales and service occupations and for skilled and experienced people in ICT, engineering, healthcare, finance and customer care (including technical support),' said Una Halligan, chairperson of EGFSN.
'It is crucial that education and training providers continuously ensure that their programmes are aligned with the future skills needs of enterprise.'
The report found that vacancies continue to arise, with an increase in the level of vacancies in Q1 of 2011 compared with last year.
It found that while 'in general, the supply of labour is greater than demand, in some areas shortages continue to exist.
'They are small in terms of the number of persons required, unlikely to be greater than several hundred, and confined to individuals with high level skills, experience and/or niche area expertise.'
The report identified men, people under 25, early school leavers, non-Irish nationals, residents of the South-East region and construction workers as being at a particular risk of unemployment.
