There is a shortage of experienced people in these occupations in Ireland at the moment. For further information on Labour Market trends, go to our Labour Market section.
An industry sector is a collection of occupations that have something in common, for example, the type of work they do or their role in the economy. Very often people are attracted to the products or services provided by a particular sector, and seek to find employment close to the essence of that area.
Within each sector there are a wide range of opportunities. These range from unskilled work up to the professions that characterise the sector. It takes years of hard and dedicated work to reach the highest levels within any sector, but if that is where your interest lies, the effort is worth it.
Everybody has to start somewhere, so choosing a sector, and the level you wish to enter into it are important decisions. Typically, the higher up on the educational ladder you climb, the higher the level you enter the sector. That is, of course, if your training is appropriate to the sector. A qualified lawyer would have to start off at the bottom of the ladder in the construction sector if they choose to work as a carpenter!
The important thing is that skills learnt in one sector often don't have great value in another sector - which is why people tend to stay and move about within the sector they have developed the skills for. It is also important to know whether the sector is a growing one or in decline (see Labour Market Information). If you are going to invest time in a sector it helps to know that there will be good job opportunities available.
Sector Profiles
The organisations below provide detailed information on the sectors they are involved in. In many instances they have provided career interviews of people working in their sector, from which greater insight into the opportunities may be found.
