The Skills Insight Note is the first in the EGFSN’s Skills Insights series for 2026.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) recently published a new report titled Cross Border Skills and Commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The research explores the labour markets of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with a particular focus on cross‑border workers, sectoral employment trends, education profiles and shared skills priorities.
The research identified strong similarities between Ireland and Northern Ireland, including a continued reliance on critical sectors, such as manufacturing, health and education and policies that are shaped by future‑oriented skills in areas such as digitalisation, the green economy and apprenticeships.
Welcoming the data, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD, noted the importance of gaining insight into how both jurisdictions can cooperate effectively.
He said, “This Skills Insight Note provides valuable analysis of the labour market links and shared challenges between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The findings underline the importance of collaboration in skills development, particularly as both economies adapt to technological and demographic change.
“Understanding these cross‑border dynamics strengthens our ability to plan effectively for enterprise growth, employment and long‑term competitiveness.”
Commuting figures, from Northern Ireland, to the Republic, were also found to have grown significantly over the course of the last 10 years, despite cross-border workers representing a relatively small portion of the labour force. The research stated that this is reflective of labour market opportunities and shared economic strengths.
The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, TD said, “The findings clearly demonstrate the strong links that exist across the two jurisdictions, including shared skills priorities, sectoral strengths and growing levels of cross‑border commuting.
“This research highlights how closely connected our labour markets are and the opportunities that exist to address shared skills challenges through cooperation and coordinated policy approaches.”
Late last year, a new €9.85m cross-border project aiming to address critical public health challenges was launched in Belfast. The four-year OneHealth project is a health and life sciences partnership that will use AI and digital health approaches to tackle pressing health and agrifood challenges.
The initiative is being led by science and technology hub Catalyst in partnership with Atlantic Technology University, Queen’s University Belfast, Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland, Tyndall National Institute Cork and the University of Galway.
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