Almost half of Irish companies failing to address skills gap, finds Learnovate

The annual Learning Signals Survey 2026 conducted by Learnovate reveals that nearly half of Irish organisations are struggling to address skills gaps amid the rapid implementation of AI technology. In 2026, around three in 10 companies were actively using AI in their operations, a 5pc rise from the previous year. However, a significant portion of these organisations are not proactively tackling skill gaps, which could hinder successful AI integration and have broader economic repercussions.

Of the Irish organisations falling short in addressing their skills gaps, nearly one-quarter are reacting reactively to immediate needs, while 15pc acknowledge the gaps but lack direction on how to resolve them. Only one in 10 organisations perceives skills development as irrelevant. A quarter of the organisations surveyed reported having a well-defined, forward-looking skills strategy, while another 25pc are currently developing such a strategy.

Learning and development are often sidelined due to time and resource constraints, with 60pc of organisations prioritising immediate operational demands over learning. Additionally, 16pc of organisations face change fatigue, and 7pc fail to value learning due to ineffective leadership. Learnovate's Managing Director, Nessa McEniff, emphasized that organisations must integrate workforce development into their AI strategies to harness AI's full potential, as failing to do so could result in wasted investment and missed efficiency gains.

The survey also highlights the need for collective efforts to share knowledge and comply with regulations as AI adoption accelerates.