Planning essential for future high-tech jobs growth

Minister for Employment and Learning Sean Farren has received the latest report from the Northern Ireland Skills Task Force Chairman Bill McGinnis on the creation of high-tech jobs in the local economy.

The report, “A Study of Labour Market Conditions in the Northern Ireland Electronics Industry,” which examines the demand and supply for electronic engineering skills, concluded that future growth in the sector requires more skilled people, in particular at technician and higher skill levels.

An improvement in the image of the industry, to ensure it is regarded as an attractive career option for our young people, is also required.

Responding to the report, Dr Farren said: “I would like to thank the Skills Task Force for producing this important report. The current global economic climate is starting to have a significant impact in Northern Ireland, even on sectors such as electronic engineering which have previously grown rapidly. No-one can anticipate how prolonged the current downturn will be, however, there is little doubt that the knowledge economy is here to stay.

“Key sectors such as IT and electronic engineering have the potential to create many high quality jobs. More than ever, we need to look to the future and to ensure we have a ready supply of high level skills so that we can capitalise on the opportunities for growth in the medium to longer term. To achieve this we need, as the report suggests, the co-ordinated efforts of a number of stakeholders.”

The Priority Skills Unit of the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre carried out the research on behalf of the Northern Ireland Skills Task Force.

The report follows an in-depth review of skill needs in the IT sector which was published in August 2000. (MB)