Engineers Ireland has welcomed the first round CAO offers and the continued increase in demand for engineering and engineering trades courses.

The professional membership body for engineers in Ireland encouraged those who received a CAO offer of an engineering course to accept their offer and pursue a career in a rewarding sector that provides limitless opportunities.

Welcoming the 5% upward trend in interest in engineering courses, Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland, said: “We are encouraged by the increase in the numbers of students opting to pursue engineering at third level. From clean water supplies and safe buildings to renewable energy and sustainable transport, engineers are critical to Irish society, environment and economy. Ireland needs a steady supply of engineers, with the necessary skillset, to boost local economies, create new jobs and facilitate sustainable development,” Mr Owens added.

“Students who accept an offer of an engineering course at third level can look forward to gaining internationally recognised qualifications and unlimited career opportunities. Our future engineering graduates will be central to the successful delivery of ambitious infrastructural and technological initiatives and will be uniquely placed to support our climate goals and ambitions.

The continued upward trend in students selecting engineering courses at Irish third level institutions comes at a welcome time for the profession as demand continues to outstrip supply in the engineering sector. “We are seeing new job opportunities for graduates and increasing salaries within the engineering sector, but there continues to be a shortfall of engineers to meet the needs of industry,” said Mr Owens.

According to findings from Engineers Ireland’s Engineering 2023 report, almost 72% of employers are concerned that the shortage of engineers with the correct skills is a major barrier to business growth.

“There are serious skills shortages in the sector and engineering employers see this shortage as the main barrier to business growth,” commented Mr Owens. “The current supply of third level graduates, particularly from Level 7 and Level 8 courses, is simply insufficient to meet the needs of our growing society. With so many engineering firms creating jobs in the short to medium term, there are ongoing challenges to ensure Ireland has the ready supply of engineering skills necessary to fill future positions.”

Engineers Ireland actively works to engage engineering students within third level institutions nationwide, with over 7,000 student members across the country and Young Engineer Societies in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

Mr Owens added: “Rigorously trained and creative engineers are vital to achieving a knowledge-based, sustainable future for Ireland. With over 8,000 jobs expected in the engineering sector in 2023 and given the level of demand by industry for a skilled labour force to create and fill the jobs of the future, we would urge students who not have obtained the required CAO points or who have not followed the traditional CAO pathway to consider all routes for a career in a sector, such as apprenticeships and other skills-based training. Apprenticeship opportunities also provide a unique opportunity to learn and develop within the engineering sector and provide students with excellent opportunities and career progression.”

Concluding, Mr Owens encouraged all future engineering students to “commence their engineering career journey today by availing of free student membership of Engineers Ireland and becoming part of Engineers Ireland’s 25,000 member-community.

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