A critical shortage of engineers across a whole range of industries and services is seriously jeopardising this countries continued economic prosperity. The warning comes from the Institution of Engineers of Ireland which says that a strong campaign is needed to attract more young people into the profession. At its national conference in the Sligo Park Hotel, devoted entirely to the skills shortage, the issue was described as a crisis. Approximately 1,500 engineers qualify from third level institutions every year but the Institution estimates that 3,000 are actually needed to meet the demand of our growing economy.
Already high tech companies are facing serious problems because they cannot get enough engineers. The shortage could also jeopardise the implementation of the National Development Plan within the Government’s timeframe. Any lagging behind in infrastructural development according to IEI President Gerry Byrne could seriously affect Irelands ability to attract more industry to this country. The Sligo conference aims to quantify the problem exactly and implement a serious working group to tackle it. The Institution believes that the message has to be got across to second level students that there is a wide range of interesting and rewarding careers available to them in engineering.
