Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
117. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will outline any engagement he has had with industry on the subject of new graduates being unable to obtain entry-level jobs in areas most affected by the adoption of artificial intelligence; if his Department has conducted any industry surveys to assess the existence of such a trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38158/26]
View answerI am continuing to engage with industry and wider enterprise, as well as relevant State agencies on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the labour market.
According to the CSO Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Q4 2025, there were a record number of people at work in our economy, with total employment at 2.83 million. Furthermore, the economy has continued to add jobs and create employment opportunities for all. In the year to the fourth quarter, employment increased by 56,700 persons (+2.0%). The labour market continues to be characterised by record low rates of unemployment and record high rates of activity.
Monitoring of the labour market and AI impacts is ongoing. My department, through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published a paper on this theme last October. The paper ‘How AI is Transforming the Irish Labour Market’ highlights trends for Ireland 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.
Further ongoing work in the Department will also help to shed more light on emerging developments. The EGFSN is funding or co-funding a number of pieces of AI related work, including a project on ‘Skills for Digital Specialists 2030’. This will be published later this year. This report will identify skills needs and skills 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 also be available later in the year and will include work on AI and the labour market. My Department also has a strong working relationship with the OECD on AI related research and this is continuing.
My colleague Minister Niamh Smyth TD serves as Minister of State at the Department, with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Trasnformation, the first Minister to hold a designated AI portfolio.
In that role, Minister Smyth is leading a significant programme of work to drive the adoption and deployment of artificial intelligence across Irish business and industry, providing enterprises with targeted support, training and practical guidance.
