Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
191. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the assessments his Department has carried out of the net employment impact of generative AI across key Irish sectors over the next five years; the way in which enterprise and skills supports are to be aligned to manage job displacement alongside job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30423/26]
View answerThe Department is continually monitoring the labour market and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI.
There are already clear impacts on the labour market and I have no doubt that the impacts in the years to come will be marked. My department, through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published research on the theme of AI and the labour market late last year. The paper ‘How AI is transforming the Irish Labour Market’ (see: egfsn-skills-insight-note-2025-2-_how-ai-is-transforming-the-irish-labour-market-final-for-website.pdf) highlighted the speed at which Ireland is moving in relation to AI. The research noted that Ireland leads in terms of the demand for AI jobs but also has a strong performance in relation to the supply of AI talent.
We have seen a doubling in AI jobs and usage since 2023. While this is a fast-changing field – it shows the inherent dynamism and resilience of the labour market here, and this bodes well for productivity, growth and incomes. The paper used national level data to compare Ireland with other European and international economies but doesn’t specifically go into forecasting or net employment impacts. My officials will be updating this work over the course of the year and I will be more than happy to share any updated analysis and insights.
The EGFSN is also funding a range of AI related work, including a project on ‘Skills for Digital Specialists 2030’. I expect that this report will be published in the first half of this year and this will identify skills needs and gaps for ICT/digital specialists, including AI.
The EGFSN is also co-funding a new ‘Working in Ireland Survey’ on the Irish labour market being done by UCD. Research from this extensive, all-island study will be available in 2026 and will include work on AI and the labour market.
Work published in February of this year from the Department of Finance also pointed to the fact that our labour market is highly exposed to AI given the composition of employment here, specifically in relation ICT, financial and professional services. The work also noted that AI may already be affecting employment patterns, with sectors more exposed to AI such as ICT and financial services recording significantly weaker employment growth in recent years.
In terms of strategy, the new National Digital & AI Strategy, Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future (published in February), sets out a clear roadmap for advancing Ireland’s digital and AI capabilities in the years ahead, underlying digital competitiveness as a foundation for economic resilience. A key priority is to fast-track enterprise technology adoption to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Finally, it is clear that given the rapid advancement of AI technology the development of new capabilities and capacities in the workforce will be necessary as it is very likely that new types of jobs will emerge. Key commitments include ensuring access to agile, and fit-for-purpose, high quality upskilling and reskilling opportunities; a nationwide Digital and AI skilling campaign; a new Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future; and a new National Skills Observatory to assist Government to develop national AI and jobs policy in the years ahead. I know the Department of Further and Higher Education Research, Innovation and Science has been particularly busy in these areas
