Engineers and engineering technicians contribute €12.65 billion to the economy, but independent research highlights a 30% gender pay gap and significant under-representation of women in the profession
Ireland could face an annual shortfall of up to 6,000 engineers and engineering technicians by 2030, placing the delivery of urgently needed housing, transport, and energy projects at risk, according to independent research commissioned by engineering professional body Engineers Ireland.
The Value of Engineers to the Irish Economy, by KHSK Economic Consultants, finds that, if demand for engineering roles continues to grow at the rate recorded over the past decade, the island of Ireland could face an annual shortfall of up to 6,000 engineers and engineering technicians up to 2030. Even under a more moderate growth scenario, an annual deficit of between 1,000 and 2,000 qualified personnel is projected.
The research highlights the scale of the challenges facing Ireland’s economy. Around 6,000 people currently enter the engineering workforce on the island each year, assisted by a high number of employment permits issued to international candidates for roles.
Shortages are already being felt across the engineering labour market. More than three-quarters of engineers surveyed as part of the study said their organisations intend to recruit during 2026, while fewer than 2% of respondents were looking for work.
The findings raise significant concerns about Ireland’s ability to deliver planned national infrastructure required to support a growing population and economy.
Speaking about the critical skills shortages, Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland, said,
“Ireland has ambitious plans to deliver homes and transform its infrastructure, but those ambitions depend on having enough engineers and engineering technicians to turn plans into reality.
We are already seeing a significant demand for engineering skills, and the research shows that this gap could widen substantially over the coming years. This is at a time when Ireland aims to complete record numbers of new homes, while simultaneously building major infrastructure such as MetroLink, the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme, the Shannon to Dublin Water Supply Project, and significant electricity grid upgrades, to name but a few of the large-scale projects for which engineers will be required.
If we do not act now to increase the supply of engineering talent, we risk constraining the delivery of housing and major infrastructure at precisely the time when Ireland needs to accelerate it.
Outside of construction, engineers are essential to Ireland’s wider economy, supporting significant industries such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, computer technology and software, and medical devices.
Investment in engineering skills is central to Ireland’s ability to deliver infrastructure, sustain economic growth, and remain competitive.”
Engineering contributes €12.65 billion to the economy
The Value of Engineers to the Irish Economy estimates that around 98,000 people were working as engineers or engineering technicians across the island at the end of 2025, comprising more than 72,000 in the Republic of Ireland and just over 25,000 in Northern Ireland. Their direct value-added contribution to the economy is projected to reach almost €9.5 billion in 2026, including more than €7 billion in the Republic of Ireland and €2.4 billion in Northern Ireland.
When an allowance for their contribution to company profits and an estimated €2.25 billion in payroll taxes is included, the engineering workforce’s total economic contribution rises to €12.65 billion. The direct contribution is equivalent to approximately 2.4% of modified gross national income in the Republic.
Research highlights significant gender disparity
The report also identifies continuing gender disparities. Women account for only around 15% of engineers and engineering technicians. The median salary among male survey respondents was €79,000, compared with €61,000 among women, a gap of almost 30%. Differences in age and experience explain only part of this disparity, with women also under-represented in senior management and director-level positions.
As part of its recent pre-Budget Submission, Engineers Ireland has called for a range of measures to help address issues raised in the report. These include:
- A national campaign promoting engineering courses at third level and highlighting career opportunities in engineering, particularly to women and girls;
- An expansion of places on accredited third-level engineering programmes;
- Greater apprenticeship opportunities in engineering; and
- The inclusion of the fifth year of integrated engineering master’s degrees within the Free Fees Initiative
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