Engineering

Ireland has seen a 30% increase in engineers since 2016 with continued growth predicted. Over 61,000 people are employed in the engineering sector and 6,000 engineering vacancies are predicted in 2024 (Engineers Ireland, 2024). The sector contributes more than €5.6 billion annually to Irish exports according to the IDA Ireland, dominating in subsectors such as industrial automation, precision engineering, agricultural machinery, energy, and environment.

Key players such as Liebherr, Henkel, Element Six, Sulzer and Thermo King continue to lead change, driving growth and innovation across diverse subsectors through various investments in research, development, and job creation.

Recent activity has seen a surge in sustainable engineering practices, with a notable emphasis on renewable energy projects and sustainable infrastructure development. With outside funding into Irish sustainable engineering firms like Ethos Engineering, Ireland is getting the attention of other countries and rapidly becoming a beacon for sustainable initiatives.

The sector’s embrace of technological advancements has paved the way for the creation of new positions in fields such as renewable energy, automation, and environmental engineering. As Ireland positions itself as a hotspot for innovation and sustainability, the engineering sector continues to provide significant opportunities for employment and career advancement creating a positive impact on Ireland’s project economy.