IT and computer science as well as business, finance and leadership skills have been named as the preferred areas to upskill among Irish learners, according to the UCD Professional Academy's upskilling report.
The Keeping Ireland Competitive: the Key Challenges Facing Ireland's Workforce report highlights that the amount of people involved in short-form upskilling could be doubled if the right courses are made available.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of people are engaged in, or say they are highly likely to take, a short course for professional upskill, while 36% said they might consider it if the right courses were available in terms of both content and accessibility.
UCD Professional Academy said there is evidence of a disconnect between the times working professionals are available to learn and the times many upskilling courses are being offered.
When asked what might prevent them from participating in a course, 40% of people referenced inconvenience in relation to timing.
Part-time on weekday evenings is the most popular time to take a course, while 89% of people want to take a course in a flexible fashion rather than in full time blocks.
Irish leaners cited career advancement as their leading motivator in upskilling (76%), ahead of bettering their skillset (71%) and bolstering their CV (55%).
Affordability is highlighted as the single most significant barrier to undertaking professional courses with 59% citing financial reasons.
Meanwhile, of those pursuing upskilling courses, 41% are self-funded while 40% are either fully or partly funded by their employer.
“As the rate of economic change accelerates, continuous professional development will play an ever-increasing role in unlocking both the professional potential of individuals and the wider economic potential of the country," said Aaron McKenna, CEO of UCD Professional Academy.
“To engage Ireland’s workforce in continuous professional development, we must consider accessibility through funding and convenience.
“We have to meet working professionals on their terms regarding subject matter, accessibility, and convenience and to achieve the cut through required. Simply put, people need compelling reasons to commit their scant time and resources to their individual upskilling."
The report is primarily based on research commissioned by the UCD Professional Academy and conducted by Genesis Research into upskilling in Ireland.
Data in the report is derived from a nationally-representative qualitative survey of 1,001 adults, with fieldwork conducted in June 2021 and June 2022.
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