Engineering Skillnet and business representative body Ibec have unveiled a four-year strategic plan titled 'Engineering a Skills-First Future 2026–2029', according to Silicon Republic, setting out a framework to address critical talent gaps and position Ireland as a global leader in engineering.

The strategy was developed in collaboration with industry leaders, learners and the Engineering Skillnet steering committee. Research underpinning the plan found that 84% of engineering employers are experiencing challenges in identifying the skills they need, while 54% of all staff require major skilling or upskilling.

The strategy calls for a fundamental shift away from traditional job roles and fixed titles towards a human-centric, skills-first model, with a focus on broadening the talent pool and accelerating learning velocity across the sector.

Pauline O'Flanagan, director of Engineering Industries Ireland, said: "To remain a global leader, Ireland must look beyond traditional job classifications and embrace a skills-first approach. In 2026, global competitiveness is defined not by hardware or capital investment alone, but by the skills agility of our workforce to operate and optimise increasingly complex, interconnected systems."

Engineering Skillnet network manager Fiona Fennell said: "Work is changing at a rapid pace, with jobs fragmenting and many skills now expiring quickly. We believe that a 'skills-first' blueprint is essential to secure Ireland's economic future. Given shifting geopolitics and demographics, this strategic plan represents a profound commitment to future-proofing skills mobility, starting right from the factory floor."

The plan aims to ensure Ireland's engineering workforce remains agile, productive and globally competitive through to 2029.

Dig into the full strategic plan and what it means for engineering talent development in Ireland in the complete report.