The labour markets in Ireland and Northern Ireland show strong alignment across several areas including skills priorities, sectoral needs and education trends.
  • Health, education, manufacturing and retail remain key employment sectors in both jurisdictions.
  • Cross border workers remain a small proportion of the population but flows from Northern Ireland to Ireland have grown significantly since 2011.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published a new Skills Insights Note, Cross Border Skills and Commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The publication examines labour market developments across the two jurisdictions, with a particular focus on cross?border workers, sectoral employment trends, education profiles and shared skills priorities.

Cross Border Commuting trends

Drawing on the recently published joint census data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the note highlights the similarities and differences in the labour markets of Ireland and Northern Ireland. While cross?border workers represent a relatively small share of the overall labour force, commuting flows, particularly from Northern Ireland to Ireland, have grown strongly over the past decade, reflecting labour market opportunities and shared economic strengths.
The analysis identifies strong similarities between Ireland and Northern Ireland, including continued reliance on key sectors such as health, retail, manufacturing and education, alongside a shared policy focus on future?oriented skills in areas such as digitalisation, the green economy and apprenticeships.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke welcomed the publication, noting the importance of evidence?based insights to support workforce planning and economic cooperation.

“This Skills Insight Note provides valuable analysis of the labour market links and shared challenges between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The findings underline the importance of collaboration in skills development, particularly as both economies adapt to technological and demographic change. Understanding these cross?border dynamics strengthens our ability to plan effectively for enterprise growth, employment and long?term competitiveness.”

Minister Smyth (who has responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation) welcomed the EGFSN’s new Skills Insights Note ‘Cross Border Skills and Commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland’ as an important and timely contribution to understanding labour market dynamics in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“I would like to thank the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) for producing this valuable Skills Insights Note examining cross?border skills and labour market commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The findings clearly demonstrate the strong links that exist across the two jurisdictions, including shared skills priorities, sectoral strengths and growing levels of cross?border commuting. This research highlights how closely connected our labour markets are, and the opportunities that exist to address shared skills challenges through cooperation and coordinated policy approaches.”

The note also highlights ongoing cross?border initiatives supported through the PEACEPLUS programme, which is investing significantly in skills development, education, training and labour market collaboration across the jurisdictions.
Background
The Skills Insight Note ‘Cross Border Skills and Commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland’ is the first in the EGFSN’s Skills Insights series for 2026. It was issued by the Chair of the EGFSN, Colm Kelly, and prepared by Ciara Cowap (EGFSN Secretariat) and Hugh Creaton (Labour Market and Skills Unit, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment).
The Skills Insights Notes are a new series of shorter publications addressing topical labour market and skills issues, produced alongside the EGFSN’s longer research studies.
The report can be accessed here:
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) advises Government on current and future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that impact on enterprise and employment growth. Further information on EGFSN publications is available at www.egfsn.ie.
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