3,800 people in Kilkenny and Carlow upskilled with Skillnet Ireland

In 2022, 3,800 people, and 1,000 businesses participated in upskilling with a Skillnet Ireland Business Network in counties Carlow and Kilkenny.

Figures from Skillnet Ireland reveal the national agency for workforce development delivered 19,600 training days across both counties last year. 54% of those who undertook training were men and 46% were women, while those aged 30 to 39 years were the largest group of people availing of upskilling supports.    

 The vast majority (97.5%) of the 1,000 Carlow and Kilkenny companies that upskilled their workforce with Skillnet Ireland in 2022 were small and medium enterprises. The greatest uptake came from the Agriculture sector followed by Services, Food & Drink, Health, Retail, Media & Audiovisual and Tourism & Travel. Companies based in Carlow and Kilkenny undertook upskilling programmes with 56 Skillnet Business Networks, including Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet.    

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The Skillnet Ireland Annual Report, for 2022 found that nationwide, upskilling and training programmes to the value of €70.2 million, were provided to almost 25,000 businesses and over 92,000 workers across the Irish economy and the regions. Companies contributed €26.5 million or 37% of the total investment towards upskilling their staff, a €4 million increase on 2021, signalling a high level of buy-in from industry sectors to develop their teams in partnership with Skillnet Ireland.    

Skillnet Ireland provides programmes to business of all sizes across all regions in key areas such as digital skills and skills for a green transition. Every business, large or small, is facing challenges, from the need for digital advancement, to talent shortages and skills gaps. In this, the EU Year of Skills, which runs until May 2024, Skillnet Ireland, the national talent development agency, is making substantial progress in futureproofing businesses in Carlow and Kilkenny, as well as enhancing the specialist skills of the Irish workforce through talent development.  

Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive, Paul Healy said, “As a knowledge-based economy nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness. Skillnet Ireland’s approach is based on flexibility, working with companies to respond to new industry trends in a fast and targeted way. We look forward to growing our partnerships with industry, higher education and State agencies in 2023”.   

Skillnet Ireland’s Director of Business Networks, Dave Flynn said, “In this European Year of Skills we are making substantial progress in futureproofing Irish business through skills development so employers fully capitalise on the opportunities presented by technological innovation, digitalisation and the green transition. As the talent development agency, Skillnet Ireland will expand our engagement with companies to ensure they have the talent to meet these challenges and more.”