Ireland’s demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital expertise is creating opportunities across cybersecurity, data engineering, cloud computing, software development and AI implementation. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) estimates that approximately 168,800 digital specialists were employed in Ireland in 2025, with demand projected to exceed 215,000 by 2030 under its baseline scenario.
The findings suggest that Ireland’s technology jobs market is expanding beyond people who develop AI models. Employers also need professionals who can secure digital systems, manage data, deploy AI tools and translate technical capabilities into business results. For workers and graduates, understanding which skills employers need may be more useful than chasing job titles containing the word “AI”.
Key facts
- 168,800 digital specialists: Estimated employment in Ireland in 2025, according to the EGFSN.
- More than 215,000: Projected digital-specialist demand by 2030 under the baseline scenario.
- About 5,500: Potential annual shortfall in digital specialists by 2030, according to the baseline shortage estimate.
- Cybersecurity: Identified by the EGFSN as the fastest-growing technology domain.
- 3.7%: Share of Irish job postings requiring AI-related skills in 2025, up from approximately 2.3% in 2024, according to PwC.
- A wider skills shift: Demand extends across AI and machine learning, cybersecurity, data, cloud technologies and software engineering.
Sources: Ireland’s Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer. Projections are not guarantees, and digital-specialist employment is broader than AI employment.
Table of contents
- What is driving AI skills demand in Ireland?
- Which technology careers have the strongest growth outlook?
- Why cybersecurity deserves particular attention
- What skills are Irish employers looking for?
- How does Ireland compare with the EU?
- What does the 2030 skills gap mean?
- How can workers prepare for AI-related careers?
- Frequently asked questions
What is driving AI skills demand in Ireland?
Three developments are shaping Ireland’s digital labour market: wider adoption of AI, growing demand for specialist technology expertise and pressure on employers to improve productivity while managing risk.
In August 2026, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment highlighted EGFSN research indicating that Ireland was generating AI-related jobs at two to three times the pace of peer EU countries. The report also placed Ireland second in the EU for AI skills and AI diffusion, behind Luxembourg.
Separately, PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer found that the share of Irish job advertisements requiring AI-related skills increased from around 2.3% in 2024 to 3.7% in 2025. AI-user roles and AI-developer roles both recorded substantial growth over that period.
These indicators measure different things. The government-reported international comparison concerns AI-related jobs and adoption, while PwC analyses job advertisements and skills requirements. Together, they point towards a labour market in which AI expertise is becoming relevant to more employers.
Which technology careers have the strongest growth outlook?
There is no single verified ranking of every AI-related occupation by actual vacancies in Ireland in October 2026. However, the latest EGFSN research identifies several technology domains with strong expected demand.
| Career area | Why it matters | Skills to investigate |
|---|---|---|
| AI and machine learning | Building, adapting and deploying AI systems | Programming, model evaluation, machine learning and applied mathematics |
| Cybersecurity | Protecting networks, identities, cloud environments and AI-enabled systems | Security operations, risk management, incident response and cloud security |
| Data engineering and analytics | Preparing reliable data for reporting, software and AI applications | SQL, data pipelines, data quality and analytics |
| Cloud and infrastructure | Supporting scalable applications, platforms and AI workloads | Cloud architecture, automation, infrastructure and platform security |
| Software engineering | Developing and maintaining digital products, including AI-enabled applications | Programming, software architecture, testing and secure development |
| AI implementation and governance | Helping organisations deploy AI responsibly and effectively | Process analysis, AI evaluation, privacy, risk management and business communication |
These are evidence-informed career areas, not a statistical league table of job-title growth rates. Cybersecurity is specifically identified as the fastest-growing technology domain in the September 2026 EGFSN digital-specialists study.
AI and machine learning
AI and machine learning roles are relevant to organisations developing or integrating intelligent systems. Depending on the employer, work can involve building models, evaluating performance, deploying applications or adapting existing AI tools to specific business needs.
Potential roles include machine-learning engineer, AI engineer, applied AI specialist and AI implementation engineer.
The required technical depth varies. Model-development positions can require substantial programming, mathematics and statistical expertise. Implementation-focused roles may place greater emphasis on software integration, evaluation, workflow design and understanding the business problem.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is an important option for people who want a technology career without specialising exclusively in AI development.
Organisations need to protect accounts, networks, applications, sensitive information and cloud environments. AI adoption adds further questions around data exposure, system access, model misuse and the security of AI-enabled workflows.
Potential roles include security analyst, cloud security engineer, security operations specialist and incident-response analyst.
The EGFSN’s identification of cybersecurity as the fastest-growing technology domain makes it particularly relevant to anyone comparing future digital career paths. It does not, however, mean that every cybersecurity vacancy is an AI job.
Data engineering and analytics
AI applications depend on data that is accessible, accurate, appropriately governed and fit for purpose.
Data engineers build and maintain the systems that move and prepare information. Data analysts use information to identify patterns, explain performance and support decisions.
Potential roles include data engineer, analytics engineer, business intelligence analyst and data platform specialist.
For people interested in AI but not necessarily in developing models, data skills can provide a route into the infrastructure and decision-making processes that support AI adoption.
Cloud and infrastructure
AI applications require computing resources, deployment environments, monitoring and secure access. Cloud and infrastructure professionals help organisations run these systems reliably.
Potential roles include cloud engineer, cloud architect, platform engineer and infrastructure specialist.
These careers can overlap with software engineering, data engineering and cybersecurity. Employers may value people who understand how several parts of a digital system work together rather than one technology in isolation.
Software engineering
AI is changing software development, but organisations still need professionals who can understand requirements, design systems, test results, manage complexity and maintain applications.
Potential roles include software engineer, backend developer, AI integration engineer and software test automation specialist.
The practical opportunity lies in combining strong software fundamentals with the ability to use and evaluate AI-assisted development tools. Familiarity with AI alone is not a substitute for understanding how reliable software should be built.
What skills are Irish employers looking for?
The latest skills research points towards a combination of technical expertise, practical experience and broader professional capabilities.
Technical skills depend on the chosen career path. They can include programming, data management, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud platforms, software engineering and AI implementation.
AI literacy is increasingly useful for professionals who use AI without building the underlying systems. This includes understanding limitations, checking outputs, protecting confidential information and recognising when human review is necessary.
Business and communication skills help technical workers explain risks, understand customer needs, collaborate across teams and turn technology into useful outcomes.
Governance and responsible use are also important. Employers need to consider privacy, security, accountability and applicable regulation when introducing AI into business processes.
The strongest career strategy is not necessarily to learn every available AI tool. It is to build a credible core skill set and then learn how AI changes the work within that profession.
How does Ireland compare with the EU?
Ireland’s digital economy is operating from a relatively strong position in several EU comparisons.
The European Commission’s Digital Skills and Jobs Platform reports that ICT specialists represented 6.30% of employment in Ireland in 2025, compared with 5.0% across the EU. It also reports that 44.93% of people in Ireland used generative AI in 2025, against an EU average of 32.66%.
These measures help explain why digital and AI capabilities are strategically important to Ireland. However, they should not be confused with vacancy growth, the number of AI developers or the share of workers employed in AI-specific roles.
For Ireland, the policy challenge is to translate strong adoption and a substantial digital workforce into sustainable skills development, productive businesses and opportunities beyond the largest technology employers.
What does the 2030 digital skills gap mean?
The EGFSN’s September 2026 study estimates that Ireland had approximately 168,800 digital specialists in 2025. Under its baseline scenario, demand is projected to exceed 215,000 by 2030.
That represents a projected increase of more than 46,000 specialists. The report also warns that existing education, training and talent pipelines may not fully meet future demand. Annual shortages could reach approximately 5,500 specialists under the baseline shortage estimate and up to 7,700 under a high-growth scenario.
These figures describe projected demand and potential shortages; they do not mean that 46,000 additional vacancies are currently open.
The implications extend beyond recruitment. Employers may need to train existing staff, work more closely with education providers and redesign jobs as AI changes tasks. Education and training organisations may need to adapt courses to evolving technical requirements.
For workers, the figures reinforce the value of continuous learning. They do not guarantee a job in a particular occupation, and the outlook will vary by location, experience, specialism and employer.
How can workers prepare for AI-related careers?
A practical route depends on existing experience and the kind of work a person wants to do.
For students and graduates: Build foundations in computing, data, statistics or another relevant discipline. Seek projects, placements and practical experience that demonstrate the ability to solve real problems.
For experienced technology workers: Identify how AI affects the existing specialism. A software engineer might learn AI integration and evaluation; a data professional might deepen data engineering skills; a security analyst might investigate cloud and AI security.
For non-technical professionals: Start with AI literacy and learn how to assess outputs, protect sensitive information and use approved tools appropriately. Combine this knowledge with expertise in a field such as finance, operations, marketing, healthcare or customer service.
For career changers: Research actual entry requirements before paying for a course. Compare recognised qualifications, practical projects, employer expectations and opportunities for work-based learning.
Ireland’s AIReady.ie initiative, launched by the Government in April 2026, offers free, practical online AI-skilling courses. It is a potential starting point for foundational learning, although introductory AI training is not equivalent to a professional qualification in cybersecurity, software engineering or machine learning.
What the outlook means for Ireland
Ireland’s AI-related labour market is about more than hiring people to build models. The latest official research points to rising demand across cybersecurity, data, cloud, software engineering and AI-related specialisms, alongside a projected expansion of the wider digital workforce through 2030.
That creates opportunities, but not guarantees. Workers will need relevant skills and practical experience; employers will need to invest in training and implementation; and policymakers will need to help education and employment systems respond to changing requirements.
For Irish businesses competing in the European economy, the central challenge is turning AI adoption into productive, secure and responsible use. For people planning their careers, the most durable approach is to combine expertise in a useful profession with the ability to work confidently and critically with AI.
Sources: Expert Group on Future Skills Needs; Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer; European Commission Digital Skills and Jobs Platform; Government of Ireland’s AIReady.ie initiative.
takeaways
DIGITAL SPECIALISTS · 2025
168,800
Estimated workforce in Ireland
BASELINE PROJECTION · 2030
215,000+
Projected demand for specialists
POTENTIAL ANNUAL SHORTAGE
5,500
Baseline shortage estimate by 2030
AI-SKILL JOB POSTINGS · 2025
3.7%
Reported share of Irish postings
Sources: EGFSN and PwC. These figures refer to different measures and should not be interpreted as a single employment series.
The essential takeaways are:
-
Cybersecurity is the strongest specifically identified growth domain in the latest digital-specialist assessment.
-
AI, data, cloud and software engineering remain important areas of expected demand.
-
AI literacy is useful beyond jobs whose titles explicitly mention AI.
-
Ireland’s projected skills shortage is an estimate, not a count of currently unfilled vacancies.
-
Practical experience, communication and business knowledge complement technical skills.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which technology careers are growing fastest in Ireland in 2026?
The EGFSN identifies cybersecurity as the fastest-growing technology domain in its September 2026 study. It also identifies strong expected demand for AI and machine learning, data, cloud technologies and software engineering. This is a domain-level assessment, not a ranking of every job title.
2. Is demand for AI skills increasing in Ireland?
Yes. PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer reports that the share of Irish job advertisements requiring AI-related skills rose from approximately 2.3% in 2024 to 3.7% in 2025.
3. How many digital specialists will Ireland need by 2030?
The EGFSN projects demand for more than 215,000 digital specialists by 2030 under its baseline scenario, compared with approximately 168,800 employed in 2025.
4. Is cybersecurity a good alternative to becoming an AI engineer?
Cybersecurity is a separate technology career path and is identified as the fastest-growing technology domain in the latest EGFSN assessment. Suitability depends on your interests, aptitude, training and the requirements of individual roles.
5. Can I work with AI without knowing how to code?
Yes. Many professionals use AI in business, marketing, finance, operations and other fields without developing AI models. Technical development positions generally require deeper programming skills, while AI literacy and critical evaluation can help people in non-technical roles.
6. What skills should graduates learn for AI-related careers?
The right skills depend on the career. Options include programming, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software engineering and AI implementation. Communication, problem-solving, adaptability and practical experience are also valuable.
7. Does Ireland have a digital skills shortage?
The EGFSN warns that existing education, training and talent pipelines may not fully meet projected demand. Its baseline estimate indicates a potential annual shortage of about 5,500 digital specialists by 2030, rising to approximately 7,700 under a high-growth scenario.
8. How does Ireland compare with the EU in digital skills?
The European Commission’s Digital Skills and Jobs Platform reports that ICT specialists represented 6.30% of employment in Ireland in 2025, compared with an EU average of 5.0%. This measures ICT employment, not AI-specific jobs.
9. Where can people in Ireland learn basic AI skills?
The Government’s AIReady.ie initiative offers free, practical online courses covering foundational AI skills. Specialist technical careers may require additional education and experience.
10. Will AI eliminate entry-level technology jobs in Ireland?
The available evidence does not support a definitive claim that AI will eliminate entry-level technology jobs in Ireland. AI may automate some tasks while changing the skills employers expect. Prospects vary by occupation, employer and level of experience.
