Accenture research reveals demand for AI professionals grows as Ireland sees surge in technology job posting

The demand for workers with Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills is growing as new research from Accenture finds promising indicators of economic recovery, particularly in the technology sector, post-pandemic. Ireland has experienced a significant surge in technology job postings, with a strong 16.3% increase observed over the past six months.

The latest Talent Tracker research from Accenture, which analyses data from LinkedIn’s Professional Network, assesses the skills of existing professionals and skills required by organisations across the country. The most recent study found a significant growth in demand for emerging technologies including data, AI, and cloud.

The demand falls in line with the availability of these skills in Ireland, with AI, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics collectively constituting eight in 10 (79.6%) of Ireland’s overall technology talent pool. Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) account for nearly 41.9% of Ireland’s total technology talent pool.

Further findings from Accenture’s research revealed:

—  There is a major 142% increase in demand for professionals in the field of AI followed by data analytics (36%) and cloud computing (21%).

—  68% of the job openings advertised by companies across Ireland are concentrated in 8 major hubs that the research looked at. This figure represents an 11% decrease from approximately 79% six months ago.

—  Dublin accounts for a substantial 63.2% of the country’s overall technology workforce, marking a rise from 59% in the previous six-month period.

Audrey O’Mahony, Managing Director and Head of Talent & Organisation at Accenture in Ireland, commented: “It’s encouraging to observe a notable rise in the jobs posted across the country, especially in the emerging technology sectors. This is likely driven by a combination of factors including increasing demand for skills in areas including AI, cloud computing, and data analytics, the rise in remote work, and the general acceleration of digital transformation efforts to stay competitive.

“The demand for AI professionals has increased by 142%, as businesses recognise that AI can provide a significant competitive edge and seek to hire people with those skills. As we consider the impact that generative AI, in particular, will have on the workplace, it’s imperative that businesses are not only hiring for those skills but they are also equipping their existing employees with generative AI knowledge. Those who double down on building the trust of their workforce and reskilling at scale will be the ones to reap the rewards of this change.”

Developed by Accenture Research, Accenture’s Ireland Tech Talent Tracker queried emerging technology and sustainability keywords on the LinkedIn Professional Network between 25th March to 4th April 2024. The tracker assesses skills of both existing roles and open positions, querying for nine skills areas: artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cyber security, data analytics, data ethics and responsibility, extended reality, quantum computing, robotics, and sustainability. The research covered all of Ireland, with a focus on the following counties: Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Limerick, Waterford, Westmeath and Sligo.