New Ibec report warns Ireland risks failing to capitalise on multi-billion euro AI opportunity without shift to lifelong reskilling

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has published a major new report warning that Ireland will fail to fully realise its long-term AI economic potential without a deliberate shift in the national approach to lifelong learning. The new study, which is supported by Accenture, Skills for all, skills for life, highlights that a failure to proactively and adequately reskill the workforce to support the transition puts a massive portion of the country’s competitive advantage at risk and hinders our ability to benefit from the multi-billion euro opportunity being created by AI.

The report, launched at an event today with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD, notes that Ireland’s previous talent model is outdated. As structural issues begin to limit growth, business leaders are urging policymakers to align their strategies and completely revamp workforce development.

Kara McGann, Head of Skills & Social Policy at Ibec, said:

“We are just at the precipice of the change happening as a result of AI. As a country, we cannot be passive or hold back our intent or resources in supporting the transition required to meet the opportunities and challenges that will come with it. We have a multi-billion-euro training fund sitting on the sidelines – acting like it’s a rainy-day fund – when given the level of disruption that we’re seeing, we’re actually in the middle of a monsoon – facing the most profound and unprecedented technological shifts since the industrial revolution and simultaneously a global talent competition.

“While Ireland may not necessarily be a global hub for AI development, we can equip our workforce to be globally renowned as “AI natives,” which will provide a real competitive advantage for us. To achieve this, we need to considerably alter our approach to lifelong learning and its participation rates. Currently, at around 48.3%, Ireland’s rate sits just above the EU-27 average of 39.5%.

“We need a considerable step-change that shifts our national mindset toward continuous learning. By resolving the funding cycles of the National Training Fund (NTF) and establishing an integrated AI reskilling plan, we can ensure that Ireland becomes a net beneficiary of these new opportunities.”

Audrey O’Mahoney, Managing Director and Talent Reinvention Lead at Accenture, added:

“Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how work gets done, not just how quickly tasks can be completed. As roles evolve, the real challenge is whether organisations are investing at the same pace in people as they are in technology. Building the skills that create value in an AI-driven economy requires more than access to tools, it demands a deliberate focus on capability, confidence and the redesign of work itself. Reskilling must be treated as a core business transformation priority, embedded into how organisations operate and how work is continuously reinvented.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD said:

“This report is a timely reminder that harnessing the benefits of AI will require a collective effort. Employers, education providers, government and industry all have a role to play in helping people and businesses adapt to rapid change. Supporting greater AI adoption across the economy is essential if Ireland is to remain competitive and unlock new opportunities for growth. I look forward to working closely with employers and skills providers to ensure the right skills responses are in place and that Ireland is well positioned to benefit from the AI revolution.”

Key findings and recommendations from the report include:

AI Urgency and Urgency of Spend: As AI continues to redefine occupational tasks and affect an estimated 82% of working hours in Ireland, the workforce must adapt at an unprecedented velocity. This transition requires immediate, strategic investment. Leaders cannot afford to defer spending for a future crisis; the disruption to our workforce is happening right now.

A Shared Responsibility: Closing emerging structural constraints requires a clear call to action with specific roles for government, education, and employers. As a core recommendation, the report states that Ireland needs a single, coherent strategy with explicit accountability across multiple stakeholders to effectively drive a national skills transformation roadmap.

Securing the Graduate Pipeline: To protect Ireland’s long-term talent advantage, industry and higher education must urgently collaborate to adapt traditional learning models. Following a decade of declining real per-student funding, universities and further education providers require funding certainty to ensure young people graduate with the exact blended skills needed for an AI-driven economy.

Building an “AI-Native” Workforce: Ireland can secure a distinct international advantage by treating skills as core infrastructure and embedding ongoing training directly into the workplace to build a highly competitive, AI-native workforce. State and enterprise leaders cannot afford to be passive; if Ireland moves slower than global competitors to realign its labour force, it faces a severe risk of being left behind.

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