More than 5,700 people and 1,500 businesses participated in upskilling with a Skillnet Ireland Business Network in Galway in 2022. Figures from Skillnet Ireland reveal the national agency for workforce development delivered some 41,400 training days across Galway last year. Fifty two per cent of those who undertook training were men and 48 per cent were women, while those aged 30 to 39 years were the largest group of people availing of these upskilling supports.
The vast majority (94.2 per cent ) of the 1,500 Galway companies that upskilled their workforce with Skillnet Ireland in 2022 were small and medium enterprises. The greatest uptake came from the manufacturing sector followed by the health, services, technology, agriculture, life sciences and retail sectors. Companies based in Galway undertook upskilling programmes with 70 Skillnet business networks, including Galway Executive Skillnet.
The Skillnet Ireland Annual Report for 2022 shows that nationwide, upskilling and training programmes to the value of €70.2 million, were provided to almost 25,000 businesses and more than 92,000 workers across the Irish economy and the regions. Companies contributed €26.5 million or 37 per cent of the total investment towards upskilling their staff, a €4 million increase on 2021, signalling a high level of buy-in from industry sectors to develop their teams in partnership with Skillnet Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland provides programmes to business of all sizes across all regions in key areas such as digital skills and skills for a green transition. Every business, large or small, is facing challenges from the need for digital advancement, to talent shortages and skills gaps.
In this, the EU Year of Skills, which runs until May 2024, Skillnet Ireland, the national talent development agency, is making substantial progress in futureproofing businesses in Galway, as well as enhancing the specialist skills of the Irish workforce through talent development.
“As a knowledge-based economy nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness," said Skillnet Ireland chief executive, Paul Healy. "Skillnet Ireland’s approach is based on flexibility, working with companies to respond to new industry trends in a fast and targeted way. We look forward to growing our partnerships with industry, higher education and State agencies in 2023.”
