Engineering Occupations

Key points for selected engineering occupations

• There were approximately 21,000 persons employed in the selected engineering occupations, representing 1.1% of Ireland‘s national workforce
• Just over one half of total employment in the selected occupations was concentrated in manufacturing (primarily in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations; machinery and equipment; computer, electronic and optical products)
• Approximately 60% of total employment was at professional level; the remainder was at technician level (i.e. associate professionals)
• Over the period 2007-2011, overall employment in the selected engineering occupations grew by 2.9% on average annually; approximately 2,300 net jobs were created in that period; the largest number of jobs was created for professional occupations: production, design and quality control (Q.C.) engineers (1,700) and electrical/electronic engineers (1,000); in contrast, the largest number of job losses was recorded for process, production and quality assurance technicians
• With 8% aged 55 and over, the share of older workers in the overall workforce of the selected engineering occupations was below the national average of 15.3%
• Approximately 90% of persons employed in professional occupations were third level graduates; the share was 65% for those employed in associate professional occupations
• The workforce of each of the engineering occupations was predominantly male
• The majority of persons employed in engineering occupations worked full-time
• At 7%, the unemployment rate for all engineering occupations was half the national average rate

Shortage Indicators

Shortages have been identified for a number of engineering occupations. They have been cited as difficult to fill and sourced from abroad (over 100 employment permits were issued to non-EEA workers in 2011). Specific engineering skills in demand include:

• chemical and product formulation engineers and analysts, especially those with an API background
• production, process and process safety engineers
• quality control engineers (for the food and high-tech industries)
• regulation engineers
• industrial hygiene engineers
• validation engineers (telecommunications sector)
• mechanical engineers (process automation, system control engineers (including Six Sigma specialists) and design engineers)
• electrical engineers with substantial experience in power generation, transmission and distribution (wind energy, high tension power, sub-station power engineers)
• instrumentation and control technicians in manufacturing (machinery, equipment and medical device sub-sectors).

The demand for engineering skills is illustrated in recent job announcements which span the following areas: electronics – particularly in semi-conductor manufacturing (e.g. ZMDI, M/A-Com); medical devices (e.g. Cook Medical), pharmaceuticals (e.g. Mylan, Abbott, Amgen), and energy (e.g. Cylon Active Energy, IMERC, Ocean Energy and West Cork Renewable Energy Centre).