Skills for Digital Specialists

An Assessment of the Future Skills Needs of Ireland’s Digital Specialists to 2030

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has published Skills for Digital Specialists: An Assessment of the Future Skills Needs of Ireland's Digital Specialists to 2030, a major new study examining the future supply and demand of digital specialist skills across the Irish economy. The report finds that demand for digital specialists is expected to grow strongly to 2030, with employers increasingly seeking advanced skills in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, software engineering, cloud technologies and data analytics.

This study was commissioned by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs to provide an updated assessment of future demand and supply for high-level digital specialists in Ireland to 2030. The study forms part of the development of the new Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future, the successor to Ireland’s third ICT Skills Action Plan, Technology Skills 2022. The Roadmap is a key deliverable under Ireland’s National Digital & AI Strategy Digital Ireland – Connecting our People, Securing our Future. This report marks the continuation of the EGFSN’s supporting role to the ICT Skills Action Plan process.

Skills for Digital Specialists estimates that approximately 168,800 digital specialists were employed in Ireland in 2025. Under its baseline growth scenario, demand is projected to rise to over 215,000 by 2030. However, current education, training and talent pipelines are unlikely to fully meet demand without appropriate policy interventions, with annual shortages potentially reaching approximately 5,500 specialists by 2030 and up to 7,700 under a high-growth scenario.

A key finding of the report is that artificial intelligence is changing rather than reducing demand for digital specialists. While some routine tasks and aspects of entry-level work may become increasingly automated, employers expect growth in demand for more advanced and specialised digital roles, particularly in AI implementation, machine learning, data engineering, cybersecurity and cloud architecture.

Cybersecurity is identified as the fastest-growing technology domain, reflecting the increasing importance of cyber resilience, regulatory compliance, identity management, cloud security and emerging areas such as AI security and post-quantum cryptography.

The report also highlights regional disparities in the availability of digital talent and continuing gender imbalances in digital specialist occupations. Women account for approximately one-fifth of digital specialists in Ireland and remain underrepresented in ICT education and employment pathways.

The report identifies seven key findings and nine recommended actions aimed at strengthening Ireland's future digital specialist talent pipeline. Recommendations include expanding education and training capacity in high-growth technology areas, enhancing collaboration between industry and education providers, strengthening work-based learning opportunities, scaling up upskilling provision and improving labour-market intelligence and forecasting.

Read the full Skills for Digital Specialists report.