Engineers Ireland has given a positive response to the surge in interest in CAO Level 8 engineering and engineering trades first preferences.
Welcoming the 12 per cent upward trend in interest in engineering courses, Engineers Ireland registrar and chartered engineer, Damien Owens said: “We are encouraged by the increase in the numbers of students opting to pursue engineering at third-level. Engineers are critical to Irish society, environment and economy.
“Ireland needs a steady supply of engineers, with the necessary skillset, to boost local economies, create new jobs, facilitate sustainable development and meet Government ambitions, such as those outlined in the Climate Action Plan."
Surge in interest
The surge in interest comes at a welcome time for the profession as demand continues to outstrip supply in the engineering sector.
According to findings from Engineers Ireland’s Engineering 2019 report, almost all (94 per cent) engineering employers consider a shortage of experienced engineers to be a barrier to growth – and 48 per cent expect this situation to get worse in the year ahead.
“We are seeing new job opportunities for graduates and increasing salaries within the engineering sector, but there continues to be a shortfall of engineers to meet the needs of industry,” said Owens.
Given the level of demand by industry for a skilled labour force to create and fill the jobs of the future, he also encouraged students to consider all routes into engineering: “We would urge students who have not selected the traditional third-level CAO pathway to consider apprenticeships and other skills-based training.
"These routes will also offer a real opportunity to develop professional and technical skills which are valued by employers and are now so badly needed in industry.”