Last week the Department of Finance published the first volume of its 2026 Economic Insight series, examining key trends shaping the Irish labour market. The publication notes that Ireland’s labour market is particularly exposed to AI, with evidence suggesting that AI may already be influencing employment patters in Ireland.
The report finds that while AI has the potential to significantly disrupt Ireland’s labour market over the coming years, the sectors in which AI is likely to have the greatest impact are also becoming increasingly clear. This information should assist with policy decisions to support workers in these sectors to up-skill and re-skill where necessary and support smooth labour market transitions.
The publication also examines a broad assessment of current labour market conditions following an exceptionally strong post-pandemic expansion and explores recent employment trends in health, education and public administration sectors.
Commenting on the release, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, said:
“Our labour market has shown remarkable resilience in recent years, with employment at record levels and unemployment remaining low by historical standards.
At the same time, we know that we are now entering a period of profound technological change.
AI presents significant opportunities to enhance productivity and strengthen our competitiveness, but we must also ensure that workers and firms are equipped to adapt. That means investing in skills, supporting life-long learning, and continuing to roll out enterprise supports that help firms adopt and deploy new technologies.”
LOADING...