Report highlights the skills of the future

The Department for Employment and Learning has today published a report examining the skills our future workforce might require.

The report entitled, ‘Forecasting Future Skill Needs in Northern Ireland’ which was undertaken by Oxford Economics, in conjunction with FGS Consulting, outlines the skills that our workforce will need under a range of economic scenarios up until 2020. It will be used to inform the Review of the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland, ‘Success through Skills’, which outlines the contribution the skills our workforce make to economic targets contained in the Programme for Government.

The report highlights that, whilst there has been a steady increase in the skill levels of the Northern Ireland population, individuals need to continue to improve their skills to ensure that they are able to avail of the employment opportunities created by the continued move towards a more knowledge-based economy.

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, welcomed the publication of the report commenting: “Whilst the short term prospects for the UK economy are uncertain, we must ensure that employers and individuals continue to see the benefit of investing in skills.

“We are aware of the need to upskill our workforce and the benefits it brings to both employers and individuals. This report highlights sectors which are predicted to experience shortages, enabling us to focus our education and training plans to create a suitably qualified workforce, so that that we can all benefit from future opportunities.”

The report is available to download from the Department’s website on http://www.delni.gov.uk/forecastingfutureskills.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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