As Schneider Electric Ireland welcomes a new cohort of apprentices, country lead Rhonda Doyle says we need to change the narrative on industrial work to engage innovators of the future.
Ireland faces a growing skills gap, but also a unique opportunity to reshape, upskill and future-proof its workforce.
Recent data shows that 83pc of employers across all sectors are facing difficulties hiring qualified candidates. For key industries such as manufacturing, this could impact innovation, competitiveness and economic growth.
The good news is that a new generation of talent is ready to be engaged; the key challenge is how best to inspire, train and connect them to the opportunities ahead.
Ireland’s industrial future depends not only on filling current roles but on cultivating a workforce that is adaptive, digitally fluent and ready to innovate.
The Irish Government’s Digital Ireland Framework, launched in 2022, aims to accelerate the nation’s digital transformation across the economy and society. Central to this vision is ensuring that people of all ages gain the skills they need, from foundational digital literacy in schools, to advanced training in further and higher education, to continuous upskilling through lifelong learning. The goal is to raise the proportion of adults with at least basic digital skills to 80pc by 2030. Achieving this will require not just investment and policy, but also the creativity, energy and bold thinking of younger generations to shape the industries of tomorrow.
A new era for manufacturing
If Gen Z and Gen Alpha have a vision of industrial business that looks like working on a factory line or toiling in the mines – that’s on us.
Industries of today – the data centres, wind farms, modern manufacturing spaces – can feel nebulous. But modern manufacturing spaces are clean, sustainable and innovative. High-tech robotics operate in tandem with duly kitted-out and highly educated experts. A new industrial identity has arrived, but the narrative is still not there.
More also needs to be done to promote trades as a valued career path. The hurdle to overcome is working out how to make it resonate.
The answer? Exactly what I said above. Modern manufacturing is a forward-thinking industry that provides a meaningful career, one that brings together skill with purpose. This is a career path where, at the end of it, a person can feel pride in their role in the world. And this starts with visibility.
Intelligent manufacturing is shooting for the moon here in Ireland. Production in manufacturing industries increased by 8.3pc in the three months to May 2025. Turnover also grew 19.4pc compared to the previous quarter.
In this new era, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are at the heart of Ireland’s industrial revolution, where machines and humans work together to learn and improve and create smart factories that supercharge operations.
Luckily, this technology comes as second nature to the younger generations who experiment with LLMs, image and video generation apps, and even agentic AI, for the industrious among them.
A match made in heaven it might be, but reshaping perceptions of a good match will take a concerted effort.
In a world of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, industrial jobs are a growth area for Ireland and hands-on apprenticeships are a competitive, viable path to well-paying and meaningful jobs.
By immersing young people in smart factories and advanced production environments, they can gain first-hand insight into the sector’s innovation and career potential. Experiencing manufacturing up close, with opportunities to rotate on operations, not only builds critical skills but also showcases the dynamic, tech-driven future of the industry.
Mobilising youth for a clean energy future
Part of the narrative must be about the stakes at play. Without clean energy, we’re looking at an increasingly inhospitable world.
At the same time, we’re looking at a world where resilience must be central to every nation’s ultimate agenda. We can’t continue to rely on others for our energy security – even on the grid.
That’s why distributed energy systems are such an interesting growth area, and one that younger generations could specialise in. They understand this – but we need to help them recognise that they have a role to play.
Indeed, Gen Z workers want careers that put meaning at the centre.
According to McKinsey’s 2024 From Hire to Inspire report, the younger generation is seeking careers with impact.
Few areas demonstrate this more clearly than the digitalisation of industry. Process controls are now available for managing energy use, reducing waste and optimising resources in Irish industry. Smarter systems are key to improving the efficiency side of our electrification story. Electrification leads to efficiency, which leads to decarbonisation – and the circle is complete.
By getting apprentices in early, we can expose Ireland’s young people to the evolving digital technologies powering our country’s energy future – and, hopefully, with leadership from our incredible professionals, inspire their passion for embracing sustainability, getting excited about new legislation and driving the country forward.
Building a sustainable workforce for Ireland
To truly attract and retain the next generation of talent, Ireland’s industry must radically rethink how it engages with young people.
While innovation may be driving Ireland’s industrial advancements, we’ve yet to fully translate that progress into a story that resonates with Gen Z and Gen Alpha. I
t’s not just about securing talent for economic growth, it’s about reshaping industry culture to reflect the priorities, values and ambitions of the emerging workforce.
By doing so, we’re not only building a better future – we’re also creating the conditions to realise our long-term goals.
By Rhonda Doyle
Rhonda Doyle is country president for Ireland at Schneider Electric, a global industrial technology leader. Doyle directs the growth and strategy for the region and supports Irish customers in their sustainability transformations.
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