How Will AI Affect Jobs in Ireland?

With artificial intelligence growing rapidly as a tool in many different industries, Irish workers are beginning to question the impact that the technology could have on their jobs.

But what will the effect of AI on Irish jobs and professions really be? Is it something that could seriously reshape the economy, or will the implications be relatively small? In this article, we’ll look at how AI could affect the Irish job market, and what individual workers can do to protect themselves against the realities of an AI-led economy.

Ireland is home to many different vibrant industries, but as with any country, it could see AI impact its overall job market. 

Although it can be tricky to visualise exactly how roles in various fields would be affected, it’s simple to understand when thinking about practical examples and examining how an AI boom might impact significant industries in Ireland.

A recent report from JournalismAI found that 75% of journalists admitted to using some form of AI for news gathering, production and distribution. 

Although most in the sector are using AI as a supplementary tool, the rate at which a relatively new tool has become an industry standard in such a short amount of time shows the potential for the technology to take over. 

For those working in media, roles that once focused on writing detailed pieces of content might be distilled down to simply sub-editing the work of an AI generative tool.  

Ireland has benefited significantly from a booming tech sector, and the capital is home to the world famous Silicon Docks. Although AI came from the tech sector itself, it could potentially play a role in shrinking the sector’s job pool in years to come. 

Open AI, the minds behind the powerful generative tool ChatGPT are turning their sites to coding, with Business Insider reporting that the company is hiring software engineers to coach it’s AI tech to be able to produce complicated coding formulas from simple prompts that require no background in coding to input. 

With tech being a key industry with high wage growth, significant changes to the number of roles available to workers could have a serious impact on Ireland’s overall job market. 

Legal professions are at a higher risk from AI tools, with a report from Goldman Sachs finding that 44% of roles in this field could be affected or displaced by AI. This is partially because the manual skills of drawing up complex documents could be replaced by AI, reducing the number of employees needed to help clients in a law-related situation. 

This could have a particularly significant impact in Ireland, as according to data from IbisWorld, the legal industry is worth over €2.9bn in Ireland, providing over 15,000 jobs in the country. 

Irish workers are concerned about the rate that AI is taking over traditional jobs and industries. In a poll conducted by FRS Recruitment of Irish workers, they found that 53% of workers in the arts felt threatened by AI, with over a third of those working in finance, telecoms and insurance, charity and agriculture all expressing fears that AI could replace roles in their industries. 

The study also found that 43% of workers based in the counties of Monaghan and Leitrim feared AI could cause job losses in their area, closely followed by 37% of workers in Sligo feeling the same way. However, those working in larger cities, such as Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick were less worried, with those areas roughly polling at around a quarter when asked if they thought AI could affect the job market negatively where they were based.

Whether or not there could be a wider positive impact for Irish companies and the labour market through AI tools and apps is yet to be seen, however with some reskilling, Irish workers could actually see more opportunities in the employment market as a result of AI.

Irish workers who are worried about the impact of AI and automation may be keen to think about ways to mitigate its negative effect on their job prospects and career progression. With this in mind, there are steps workers can take to achieve this goal and make the best out of a period of AI revolution. 

Although there are many areas that could be affected by the rise of AI, certain career fields are less likely to be impacted by AI tools. Upskilling to find new roles or taking on a new job can be one way to keep your access to job opportunities in the Irish economy in the coming years.

Firstly, the hospitality industry is likely to be less affected by the rise of AI due to the physical work required by staff and the in-person nature of roles in this industry. Exploring courses in Hospitality can give you the skills you need to break into this industry and protect yourself against AI-induced job losses. 

Secondly, roles in Health have a good chance of being protected against the rise of AI. Although AI will play a role in the health sector in the future, common roles such as a Nurse, Doctor or Surgeon are highly skilled roles that require physical interaction, so are less likely to be impacted by even the most advanced AI tools. Exploring Health courses can be a good way to find out and acquire the skills needed to move into this sector. 

Lastly, similar to the health sector, the animal care sector is also heavily reliant on workers using practical, in-person skills that can’t be replicated by AI. Retraining in this area through Animal Care courses can be a great way to pivot towards an industry that is unlikely to be affected by advances in AI.

AI has the potential to enhance many roles, meaning that Irish workers can successfully integrate AI into their careers with some limited training. It’s worth asking, ‘What jobs will AI create?’ instead of only asking what jobs it might get rid of. 

Those with a background in IT can pivot their career to become more AI-focused with IT courses. Furthermore, many IT careers are proactively focusing on AI as a way to enhance productivity and efficiency for those in this sector. 

AI is a growing and ever-changing aspect of the modern job market, so keeping abreast of its developments can be a great way to see how it could affect you and your career. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is to understand the impacts AI is having, and fostering a pattern of lifelong learning through your career by accessing online courses that can be completed part-time, at your own pace whilst you develop your career.