Wicklow Businesses Keep Their Skills Fresh To Stay Competitive

The vast majority of employees upskilling in Wicklow were from SMEs.

Keeping your skills fresh is the business! Especially when it comes to staying competitive. It looks like 500 businesses in Wicklow agree.

Skillnet Ireland's Annual Report reveals almost 2,000 people from businesses across Co. Wicklow took part in upskilling with them in 2024.

The agency delivered over 10,000 training days in Wicklow last year.

The vast majority (97%) of employees were from small and medium size enterprises. The greatest uptake came from the health sector followed by food & drink, pharmaceutical, services, agriculture, retail and manufacturing.

• 58% of those who undertook training were women
• 42% were men
• 30-39 year olds availed of supports more than any other age group

Commenting on the uptake of Skillnet Ireland supports Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless TD, said:

As the national workforce development agency, Skillnet Ireland plays a key role in developing the talent that Irish businesses need through upskilling and reskilling. In 2024, it supported over 24,000 businesses, the vast majority of them SMEs, to address their skills needs in order to remain competitive. By supporting Irish businesses to upskill and reskill, Skillnet Ireland is helping to foster resilience and innovation, so that companies can adapt to and meet the challenges posed by the digital and green transitions.

Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive, Mark Jordan, said:

As a knowledge-based economy nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness.  Over 24,000 Irish businesses chose to invest in upskilling and develop their people through Skillnet Ireland in 2024, which indicates the appetite for upskilling within the corporate landscape. We are proud to support employers throughout Ireland to both invest in their teams and strengthen Ireland’s position as a leader in innovation and sustainable growth.

Skillnet Ireland works to support businesses in Wicklow. The national talent development agency builds competitiveness through skills, to meet the challenges and opportunities that owning and running a business brings.