Upskilling becomes a strategic priority for Irish businesses, new Skillnet Ireland research finds

Pictured is Laura Cassin working on the 'Garden of Hope' by Teagasc

New research highlights growing demand for digital, AI and sustainability skills, as more than three-quarters of Irish business leaders identify workforce development as critical to future success

Horticulture

5 November 2026

Upskilling is becoming an increasingly important strategic priority for Irish businesses, with 78% of business leaders viewing investment in workforce skills as critical to future business success, according to new research published by Skillnet Ireland.

The findings, contained in Ireland’s Talent Landscape 2026, highlight the growing importance of workforce development as businesses respond to technological change, evolving market demands and the need to remain competitive.

Announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science – James Lawless TD, the report is based on research conducted by Ipsos B&A among a nationally representative sample of 750 business leaders.

Access to skilled employees remains the most important enabler of business success. The research found that 72% of SMEs employing between 10 and 49 people identified access to qualified talent as very important, rising to 75% among larger organisations employing more than 250 people.

“The strength of Ireland’s economy has always depended on the talent of our people. As businesses navigate rapid technological change and evolving market demands, investing in skills has never been more important,” Minister said.

He added that the research provides an important insight into the challenges and opportunities facing Irish enterprises and reinforces the need to ensure businesses of all sizes can access the skills required to grow and innovate.

Digital transformation is reshaping workforce requirements

One of the report’s key findings is that more than half of Irish companies expect the core skills required by their workforce to change over the next three years. Among larger organisations, this figure rises to 79%.

The research also identifies significant differences in the digital maturity of Irish businesses. Using a new Digital Intensity Index based on Eurostat methodology, Skillnet Ireland found that 41% of companies demonstrate high or very high levels of digital intensity, while the majority remain at lower levels of digital adoption.

Businesses with higher digital maturity are more likely to anticipate changing workforce requirements, particularly in areas such as leadership, advanced technologies and innovation.

By comparison, organisations with lower levels of digitalisation continue to focus more heavily on traditional operational and trade-based skills.

There are also differences between sectors. Half of businesses operating in manufacturing, technical and engineering reported high or very high digital intensity, compared with one-third of businesses in industry and construction.

For sectors such as horticulture, landscaping and grounds management, these findings highlight the wider importance of ensuring employees have access to the training needed to work with increasingly sophisticated machinery, digital systems and technology-driven services.

AI skills demand is growing, but investment remains limited

Artificial intelligence is emerging as another important consideration for Irish businesses.

Among organisations with very high digital intensity, 82% believe AI will have a significant or transformative impact on their operations within the next two years.

However, despite growing awareness of its potential, investment in AI-related training remains relatively low. Just 27% of businesses plan to invest in AI upskilling over the next 12 months.

Among businesses identifying AI training needs, content generation and prompt engineering were the most frequently cited capabilities, highlighted by 35% of respondents.

As digital tools become increasingly integrated into business operations, developing the skills to use these technologies effectively will be an important consideration for employers across a range of industries.

Sustainability skills remain important to future growth

The report also examines the changing demand for sustainability-related skills.

While sustainability continues to feature in business priorities, the proportion of companies expecting large-scale workforce training in this area has moderated. A quarter of businesses now expect more than half of their workforce to require sustainability-related training, compared with 33% in 2025.

Nevertheless, sustainability capabilities remain important to future business development.

Among organisations employing more than 50 people, energy efficiency was identified by 76% as a key capability supporting future growth. Policy and regulation followed at 71%, while innovation and creativity were highlighted by 65%.

These skills are particularly relevant to industries working with land, machinery, natural resources and outdoor environments, where efficiency, environmental responsibilities and changing regulatory requirements increasingly influence business decisions.

Time and cost remain barriers to training

Despite the growing recognition of upskilling as a business priority, practical barriers continue to affect investment in workforce development.

Lack of time was identified as the leading obstacle, cited by 45% of businesses and rising to 51% among SMEs.

Cost is another significant consideration, with half of businesses indicating that increased supports and grant funding would encourage greater investment in training.

The research also highlights differences in preferred learning approaches. Micro-enterprises show a stronger preference for e-learning, while medium-sized organisations tend to favour trainer-led, in-house programmes.

These findings underline the importance of accessible and flexible training opportunities that can accommodate businesses with different resources, workforce structures and operational demands.

Supporting the future skills needs of Irish industry

Commenting on the findings, Mark Jordan, chief executive of Skillnet Ireland, said workforce development had become a strategic business imperative as technologies evolve and industries transform.

He highlighted the role of Skillnet Ireland’s 73 Skillnet Business Networks and National Initiatives in helping enterprises develop the skills, leadership capabilities and talent needed to navigate digital transformation, adopt AI and advance sustainability.

Now in its third year, Ireland’s Talent Landscape tracks changing workforce priorities and emerging skills requirements across the Irish economy.

The 2026 findings will help inform Skillnet Ireland’s strategy to support business competitiveness through workforce transformation, leadership development, digital and AI adoption, sustainability and enterprise innovation.

For Irish businesses across horticulture, landscaping, machinery, sports turf and grounds management, the message is clear – investment in people and skills will remain an important part of adapting to an increasingly technology-driven and competitive operating environment.