The Skillnets Annual Report 2012 published today, reports that in 2012 the national skills agency delivered significant increases in the numbers of employees and job-seekers trained. The total numbers in receipt of training was up by 10% on 2011 figures, and represented an increase of 17% on training days delivered. The level of training supported by Skillnets exceeded annual targets and was delivered through a number of programmes focusing on a wide variety of training options representing specific industry sectors key to Ireland’s future economic growth.
Impact of Training
In a 2012 survey with companies, 86% of companies agreed that Skillnets training had helped them to fill skill gaps in their businesses with 84% of companies reporting that training was likely to enhance the long-term performance of their business. Of companies surveyed, 98% agreed that investment in Skillnets training represented value for money and reduced the barriers to finding relevant training (81%).
Job-seekers
Specific increases were also noted in supports for job-seekers with over 7,000 job-seekers engaging in training, an increase of over 1,000 on 2011 figures. Job-seeker trainees undertook over 53,000 training days, an increase of over 12,000 training days on 2011 figures. Of those who participated in job-seeker training, 46% were long-term unemployed and a significant proportion of them had been out of the labour market for more than three years.
In total, €23.9 million was invested in developing the skills of over 44,000 people in Ireland through the agency in 2012. Of this, €13 million was invested from the National Training Fund (NTF) through Skillnets and €10.9 million from companies. Trainees benefitted from over 239,000 training days, delivered by 56 Skillnet networks across the country.
For the full report please click on the link below.
