Meeting the Demand for Construction and MMC Skills

To meet Ireland’s housing targets and retrofit plans, the construction industry needs to be fast, efficient, and highly skilled.

• A report published in October 2024 forecasts the skills needed to deliver new homes and retrofits.
• If Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are widely used, Ireland will need 69,000 new workers, compared to 79,000 under traditional methods — showing how MMC can reduce labour needs.

• A new plan will promote careers in construction, boost recruitment, and expand training.
• Apprenticeships are growing:
  • 9,000 apprentices registered in 2024, over half in construction.
  • Target: 12,500 per year by 2030 under a new 5-year Apprenticeship Action Plan (2026–2030).
• The Department of Further and Higher Education is leading an Action Plan for MMC skills, supported by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
• The National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas provides hands-on training in real site conditions.

These steps will ensure Ireland has the skilled workforce needed to build homes at scale.