NEWS Manufacturing still drives Northern Ireland’s economy
Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said that in recent years, manufacturing in Northern Ireland has grown more than four times faster than the rest of the UK, to the point where the sector now accounts for 11% of direct employment. In March, the Department for economic output statistics report for the year 2024, which showed that in the fourth quarter the production sector increased by 1.4% quarterly and 2.4% annually. Only one sub-sector drove these increases by posting both quarterly and annual increases – manufacturing. Mr Kelly said: “May is Manufacturing
Month, allowing us all the opportunity to celebrate the great people in great
businesses who contribute so much to creating work and wealth right across Northern Ireland.” The fourth quarter of 2024 also
saw employment in the sector increase to over 90,000 jobs, coming at a time when GB’s manufacturing sector decreased by 1.3%. Indeed, the sector has a broader impact with more than 150,000 jobs supported elsewhere in the NI economy through supply chain and indirect jobs wholly supported by the value of wages paid by the sector. “In total, one in four families in
Northern Ireland rely, directly and indirectly, on a manufacturing wage,” Mr Kelly added.
“No other sector delivers ‘good
jobs’, at scale, in every rural and urban community.”
Technology Ireland welcomes formation of a Joint Oireachtas Committee on AI
Technology Ireland, the Ibec association representing the technology sector, and timely step in Ireland’s leadership on AI. Una Fitzpatrick, director of Technology Ireland said: “We commend the Oireachtas for recognising the need for proactive, inclusive dialogue on AI. This new committee marks a pivotal moment for Ireland’s innovation ecosystem. “As AI technologies continue to evolve, the creation of a dedicated
parliamentary committee demonstrates real leadership in ensuring Ireland remains both competitive and responsible in a fast-evolving global landscape.” Brendan Kiely, chair of Technology Ireland and co-founder and chief
executive of ThinScale Technology, added: “The transformative role of AI and large language models (LLMs) can’t be understated. AI is no longer just a tool for big tech – it’s becoming a vital part of how small and medium-sized enterprises operate, compete, and grow. “From automating repetitive tasks to improving customer experience and streamlining operations, AI is helping Irish SMEs punch above their weight in global markets.”
‘Skills-First’ report recognised by leading international journal
L&D Skillnet has achieved a major milestone with the publication of its landmark report, ‘Skills-First: An Emerging Approach to Managing Human Resources for the New World of Work’, in the prestigious US-based journal Organizational Dynamics. First published in July
2023, the report offers timely insights into the evolving landscape of Human Resources (HR) and talent development. It calls for a shift towards a to address growing talent shortages and future-proof organisations. Sinead Heneghan, chief executive of the Learning and Development Institute and Network Promoter of L&D Skillnet, welcomed the international recognition, saying: “We are very proud that our collaboration with Skillnet Ireland brought this research to life. “There was no comprehensive research available on the emerging this approach.” The study, co-authored by Professor David Collings (Trinity College
Dublin) and Dr John McMackin (Dublin City University), found that developing employee skills and capabilities is now the number one priority for HR leaders.
6 May/June 2025 Irish Manufacturing
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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