Ireland ranks 2nd in EU for AI skills and jobs, report shows
New research has found that there is a strong demand for AI jobs in Ireland, generating jobs in the Artificial Intelligence industry at 2-3 times the pace of other EU countries.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs published the report, titled “The Irish Labour Market and AI in 2026. This shows how AI is impacting the Irish labour market, and it found a robust pipeline of talent as well as a strong demand for AI skills.
The report also found that Ireland is fast becoming a leader in AI skills, currently ranking 2nd behind Luxembourg. Along with this, the Irish economy has seen a significant rise in AI usage across the economy.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, welcomed the report, saying: “This report on AI and the Irish labour market is timely and informative, and I commend the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs on their important work. The findings are clear: Ireland has moved quickly and is a global leader in respect of AI adoption across the labour market. The pace of change is astounding, and the research highlights how well we are doing across several key metrics. The work also reminds us that success in AI adoption is not automatic and that AI spread throughout the country is uneven.
“That is why government is continuing to invest heavily. We need to double down on investing in education, training and helping people to embrace AI. “We have made a very strong start in this process, but we must sustain this and continue to lead in the years ahead. Ireland’s AI advantage is real but staying ahead will necessitate turning early strong momentum into broad-based, inclusive and skills-led productivity gains.”
Niamh Smyth, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, added: “I would like to thank the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) for their work in producing this new report examining ‘The Irish Labour Market and AI in 2026’. It is clear that our labour market has moved quickly to adopt AI and that we have a strong pipeline of AI-related talent here.
“This work however, clearly shows us that we cannot and will not stand still. Our economy will continue to grow, but we must be increasingly cognisant of the impact of AI. As the paper notes, the policy challenge centres on the capacity of businesses, workers and government to adopt and utilise AI effectively. That is what is happening right now, and we are already seeing the benefits."