Background information

SOLAS is supported from by a variety of organisations: Skills and Labour Market Research Unit, Central Statistics Office, Department of Social Protection, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, Higher Education Authority, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Department of Education and Skills, Central Applications Office.

The National Skills Database (NSD) was developed in 2003 by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS (the Further Education and Training Authority) on behalf of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. It collates quantitative information about the supply and demand of skills in Ireland, from the Central Statistics Office, the Department of Social Protection, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Education and Skills, and the Central Applications Office.

Content of measure

This site provides up-to-date information on employment trends and the employment outlook for various occupations, which are then summarised in annual National Skills Bulletins. It also provides information on other characteristics of those employed in each occupation: age, gender, whether they are typically self-employed or employees, and whether they are typically working full-time or part-time. The database can give information on current employment trends and on expected employment growth and shortages for each occupation.

The database collects information about supply and demand of skills for all the Republic of Ireland. It provides information on employment trends and the employment outlook for various occupations; information on other characteristics of those employed in each occupation - their age, gender, whether they are typically self-employed or employees, and whether they are typically working full-time or part-time. The occupations are grouped into 9 broad occupational groups.

It facilitates the use of a range of indicators and models to assess potential imbalances between the demand and supply of skills for more than 100 occupations. It has been running for 21 years.

The database represents an effective tool for timely analysis and forecasting of the labour market at occupational level. In 2023 Minister for Further Education, Simon Harris, described the National Skills Bulletin as "an excellent resource which continues to inform education and training provision, career choices and skills policy."

Use of measure

Unknown

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Unknown

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sources

• 20 September 2024: National Skills Bulletin 2023 (www.solas.ie)