Ministers Lawless and Harkin launch WorldSkills Ireland 2025
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From: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
- Published on: 28 August 2025
- Last updated on: 28 August 2025
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills Marian Harkin TD, today launched WorldSkills Ireland 2025.
WorldSkills Ireland 2025 is a free-to-attend event and will run alongside The Irish Times Higher Options at the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, from September 17–19, 2025.
As Ireland’s largest gathering of second-level students, with over 30,000 expected attendees, the event showcases the power of skills competitions to promote a future-ready workforce and highlights the innovation within further and higher education. A key aim of the event is to challenge outdated views of apprenticeships and skills-based careers, offering students, teachers, guidance counsellors, and parents a deeper understanding of the wide range of opportunities available to young people across Ireland.
Over 180 finalists will go head-to-head in 35 live National Competition Finals in sectors including automotive, construction, creative arts, hospitality and tourism, ICT and manufacturing and engineering, showcasing the best of their skills and professions. The winner of each skill competition final will be awarded the coveted DFHERIS Silver Medal for Excellence and the chance to represent Ireland at the 48th Skills Olympics in Shanghai in 2026.
Launching the event, Minister Lawless said:
“I am pleased to see the return of WorldSkills Ireland. This event represents far more than a competition — it offers a valuable, hands-on opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to engage directly with employers and education providers from across the country. It showcases apprenticeships and traineeships in action and highlights clear pathways to internationally recognised qualifications and highly sought-after skills.”
Minister Harkin added:
“Skills form the backbone of our economy, and WorldSkills Ireland highlights the wide range of rewarding career paths open to students across Ireland, from traditional sectors like construction and mechanics to emerging fields such as ICT and green technologies. Employers consistently highlight the demand for skilled talent, making the return of WorldSkills Ireland a timely and valuable opportunity that benefits both students and industry nationwide.”
Those who register for WorldSkills Ireland 2025 will get the chance to hear from Industry Heroes and rising stars across all industries at the Heroes Stage, engage with employers in recruitment, and see regional opportunities available from the Education and Training Boards, Technological Universities, Universities, and Apprenticeship Consortium Employers.
Commenting on the ongoing significance of the event, Ray English, Chair of WorldSkills Ireland, notes:
“Skills remain at the very heart of Ireland’s economic success. As industries evolve at speed, the demand for highly-skilled people across every sector has never been greater.
“WorldSkills Ireland 2025 demonstrates the power of collaboration between education, industry, and government in addressing these challenges head-on. It’s the place for young people to discover what skills are best suited to their interests, and importantly, what options are available and how to move forward, taking steps towards shaping their future careers.”
WorldSkills Ireland 2025 will also showcase for students the use of AI and Virtual Reality Education through the Further Education and Training Village, and the latest sustainable and green technologies with industry showcases.
WorldSkills Ireland is a Government and all-industry initiative, working hand in hand to deliver the solution to Ireland’s skills shortage. Backed by leading industry partners including SISK, Construction Industry Federation and ESB Networks; sector sponsors including SIMI (Society of the Irish Motoring Industry) and Fáilte Ireland; and education partner, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, the event is also supported by the Government of Ireland and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO).
Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register now at what is expected to be the biggest skills event to date.
WorldSkills Ireland 2025 registration is open at Worldskillsireland.ie.
NOTES
WorldSkills Ireland
The WorldSkills Ireland organisation is a partnership between enterprise, industry, education, training and government that raises the profile and recognition of skills and Apprenticeships, and prepares the talent of today for the careers of the future.
WorldSkills Ireland has organised the Ireland Skills National Competition on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, and now the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, every year since its establishment and has competed at all the WorldSkills International competitions since 1956.
WorldSkills International
Founded in 1950, WorldSkills International is a global organisation that promotes vocational, technological, and service oriented education and training.
It promotes skilled careers in 89 member countries and regions across the globe, all working with youth, educators, governments and industries to help prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future.
WorldSkills gives youth the chance to compete, experience and learn how to become the best in their skill of choice in the Olympics of Skills.
WorldSkills International holds a biannual general congress, combined with a competition for the winners of the various member nations’ national events. The next event will be held in Shanghai in 2026.
WorldSkills Ireland 2025
At WorldSkills Ireland 2025, there will be up to 35 competitions across the automobile and Heavy Vehicle Technology, Construction, Creative Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology and ICT sectors.
New competitions in 2025 include Retail Sales, Addictive Manufacturing, Scaffolding, Horticulture & Landscaping, and Software applications Development.
Based on attendance from the previous two years (24,000 in 2023 and 30,000 in 2024), it is hoped that there will be more than 30,000 students attending the WorldSkills Ireland event this year.
Photo captions
Photo 1 (L-R): Minister James Lawless TD, Robert Dunne, Cookery competitor, Minister of State Marian Harkin TD and Michael Hourihan of WorldSkills Ireland pictured at the launch of WorldSkills Ireland 2025 which takes place September 17-19
Photo 2 (L-R): Joan Ní Loideáin, Cabinetmaking competitor, Minister of State Marian Harkin TD, Robert Dunne Cookery competitor and James Downes, Welding Competitor, pictured at the launch of WorldSkills Ireland 2025 which takes place September 17-19.
Photo 3 (L-R): Sean McLoughlin, World Skills Ireland Ambassador, Emma Grant, Hairdressing competitor and Minister James Lawless TD pictured at the launch of WorldSkills Ireland 2025 which takes place September 17-19.
