Engineers and programme managers hardest to recruit in Ireland’s renewable sector, report finds

Solar Ireland’s inaugural Renewable Energy Workforce & Skills Report, launched on 29 September at the CIPD offices in Charlotte Quay Dock, shows that engineers and programme managers are the most difficult roles to fill in the country’s growing renewable energy sector.

The report, produced with Collins McNicholas, gathered data from 50 organisations, mainly SME solar firms (46 %), multi‑technology companies (34 %), onshore wind (6 %) and energy storage (2 %). It highlights a widening “experience gap”, with 74 % of employers citing a lack of practical experience as a barrier to recruitment, compared with 60 % pointing to general skills shortages.

Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, warned that while infrastructure expansion is widely discussed, the sector’s success depends on people who can design, plan, finance, build, connect and operate projects. He noted that almost 90 % of surveyed employers expect workforce needs to rise over the next six to 18 months, climbing to over 92 % when looking two to four years ahead.

The research estimates roughly 11,500 people are employed directly or indirectly in renewable energy in Ireland, with significant growth anticipated by the end of the decade. Employers also reported difficulty recruiting environmental and planning specialists, with 30 % naming these roles as hard to fill.

Power urged the industry to address the pipeline now, before the shortage hampers project delivery, emphasizing that hands‑on experience in planning, construction and commissioning is harder to teach in a classroom.

Source: Silicon Republic. Photo: K / Pexels.