AI jobs in Ireland are expanding, but the country’s artificial-intelligence employment story is becoming broader than specialist AI engineering. Recent research from PwC and Ireland’s Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) shows growing demand for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, cloud and software skills, while employers are also placing greater emphasis on judgement, adaptability, communication and business understanding.
PwC found that the share of Irish job postings requiring AI-related skills reached 3.7% in 2025, up from around 2.3% in 2024. Jobs requiring specific AI skills grew 83% between 2019 and 2025, compared with 16% growth in the overall Irish jobs market over the same period.
At the same time, a new EGFSN report published in September 2026 estimates that Ireland had approximately 168,800 digital specialists in 2025, with demand projected to reach around 215,400 by 2030 under its baseline scenario.
The message for Irish workers is therefore not simply that more people need to become AI engineers.
It is that AI capability is becoming part of a much wider range of careers.
Key Facts
| Finding | Latest evidence |
|---|---|
| Irish job postings requiring AI-related skills | 3.7% in 2025 |
| Irish job postings requiring AI-related skills in 2024 | ~2.3% |
| Growth in Irish jobs requiring specific AI skills since 2019 | 83% |
| Overall Irish jobs-market growth since 2019 | 16% |
| Growth in AI-user roles in 2025 | 84% |
| Growth in AI-developer roles in 2025 | 73% |
| Digital specialists employed in Ireland in 2025 | ~168,800 |
| Projected digital-specialist demand in 2030 | ~215,400 |
| Potential annual digital-specialist shortage by 2030 | ~5,500 |
| High-growth shortage scenario | up to ~7,700 |
The figures come primarily from PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer and the September 2026 EGFSN digital-specialist report. The 2030 figures are projections, not guaranteed employment outcomes.
Table of Contents
- AI jobs are growing in Ireland
- AI-user jobs are becoming increasingly important
- Which skills are in demand in Ireland?
- 1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- 2. Cybersecurity
- 3. Data engineering and analytics
- 4. Software engineering
- 5. Cloud and digital infrastructure
- Why human skills still matter
- What AI means for entry-level careers
- How much will Ireland’s digital workforce grow by 2030?
- Will AI replace jobs in Ireland?
- What should Irish workers learn?
- What this means for Irish employers
- The outlook for AI jobs in Ireland
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
AI jobs are growing in Ireland
Ireland’s demand for AI-related skills increased sharply between 2024 and 2025.
PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer found that AI-related hiring in Ireland almost doubled over the period, with job postings requiring AI-related skills reaching 3.7% of all postings in 2025, compared with approximately 2.3% in 2024.
The longer-term trend is also significant.
Since 2019, jobs requiring specific AI skills in Ireland have grown by 83%, compared with 16% growth across the overall jobs market analysed by PwC.
That does not mean 83% of jobs are becoming AI jobs.
Instead, it indicates that AI-related capabilities are appearing increasingly frequently in the skills employers request.
This distinction matters.
The Irish labour market is not simply creating a separate category of AI workers. Employers are increasingly looking for people who can combine technology with another area of expertise.
AI-user jobs are becoming increasingly important
One of the most important findings from PwC’s Irish analysis is the difference between AI-user roles and AI-developer roles.
AI-developer roles are jobs directly involved in developing AI systems, such as machine-learning and related technical positions.
AI-user roles are broader. They involve using AI capabilities as part of another occupation.
In Ireland, AI-user roles increased by approximately 84% in 2025, while AI-developer roles increased by approximately 73% compared with 2024. PwC says AI-user roles account for the majority of AI-related jobs.
That suggests the impact of AI is extending beyond specialist technology teams.
A financial professional might use AI for analysis.
A marketing professional might use generative AI for research and content workflows.
A software engineer may use AI-assisted development tools.
A cybersecurity specialist may use AI to identify patterns and threats.
A business analyst may use AI to process information and support decision-making.
The job title does not necessarily need to contain the word AI for AI skills to become relevant.
Which skills are in demand in Ireland?
The latest Irish Government research identifies several areas where demand for digital-specialist skills is expected to remain strong through 2030.
The EGFSN report highlights:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Cybersecurity
- Data
- Cloud technologies
- Software engineering
- AI implementation
- Data engineering
- Cloud architecture
The report also says employers increasingly need multidisciplinary capabilities, including communication, business understanding, adaptability, critical thinking, ethics and regulatory awareness.
This creates a broader picture of the Irish technology labour market.
1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
AI and machine learning remain central to Ireland’s future digital skills requirements.
The EGFSN expects demand for advanced capabilities in AI implementation and machine learning to grow as organisations deploy more AI systems.
Potential roles include:
- Machine-learning specialists
- AI engineers
- AI implementation specialists
- Data scientists
- AI product specialists
- AI governance professionals
- AI security specialists
However, these are not the only AI-related opportunities.
The growth of AI-user roles indicates that AI capability is increasingly relevant inside existing professions as well.
2. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity stands out in the latest government research.
The EGFSN identifies cybersecurity as the fastest-growing technology domain in its assessment of Ireland’s future digital-specialist needs.
That demand is linked to several areas, including:
- Cyber resilience
- Regulatory compliance
- Identity management
- Cloud security
- AI security
- Post-quantum cryptography
As organisations deploy more cloud systems, AI applications and connected services, protecting those systems becomes increasingly important.
This means the AI employment story cannot be separated from cybersecurity.
AI creates new capabilities, but it also creates new security and governance requirements.
3. Data engineering and analytics
AI systems depend heavily on data.
That makes data engineering and analytics another important part of Ireland’s digital skills pipeline.
The EGFSN identifies data among the areas where employers are expected to require stronger specialist capabilities through 2030.
Relevant skills include:
- Data engineering
- Data analysis
- Data management
- Data quality
- Machine-learning data preparation
- Data governance
- Analytical reasoning
The practical lesson is straightforward:
AI skills without the ability to work effectively with data have limited value.
4. Software engineering
Software engineering remains an important part of Ireland’s technology workforce even as AI-assisted development becomes more common.
The EGFSN identifies software engineering among the advanced digital areas where demand is expected to remain strong.
AI may automate parts of software development, but organisations still require people who understand:
- Software architecture
- Systems integration
- Security
- Testing
- Infrastructure
- Product requirements
- Code quality
- Technical decision-making
The role of the software engineer may therefore evolve rather than simply disappear.
AI tools can assist with some development tasks while increasing the importance of people who can understand systems and make higher-level technical decisions.
5. Cloud and digital infrastructure
Cloud architecture and related infrastructure skills are also identified in the EGFSN research as important areas of future demand.
AI applications require infrastructure capable of handling data, models, applications and increasingly complex workloads.
Relevant skills include:
- Cloud architecture
- Cloud security
- Infrastructure management
- Distributed systems
- Data platforms
- AI infrastructure
For Ireland’s technology sector, this creates an important link between AI adoption and broader digital infrastructure.
Why human skills still matter
Technical skills are only one part of the picture.
PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer identifies growing importance for human-intensive skills as AI changes the way professionals work. Its global research also found that highly AI-exposed entry-level roles are increasingly asking for skills traditionally associated with more senior workers, including judgement and leadership.
The Irish EGFSN report reaches a similar conclusion from a different perspective.
It says employers need multidisciplinary or “T-shaped” professionals who combine technical depth with capabilities such as:
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Business understanding
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Adaptability
- Ethics
- Change management
This is important for people considering an AI career.
Learning a technical tool is not necessarily enough.
The more durable combination may be:
Domain knowledge + AI literacy + analytical ability + communication + judgement
What AI means for entry-level careers
The effect of AI on early-career jobs is one of the more complicated parts of the labour-market transition.
Some routine tasks can increasingly be automated.
At the same time, employers may expect junior employees to handle more sophisticated tasks earlier in their careers.
PwC’s global analysis found that AI-exposed entry-level roles were seven times more likely than less-exposed entry-level roles to require traditionally senior skills such as leadership and strategic decision-making.
This evidence comes from PwC’s US analysis rather than an Ireland-only dataset, so it should not be interpreted as a direct measurement of Irish entry-level employment.
However, it provides useful context for the Irish findings.
The EGFSN similarly warns that AI may put pressure on some entry-level pathways while increasing demand for advanced and specialised capabilities.
For graduates, that could make practical experience increasingly important.
Internships, apprenticeships, industry projects and work-based learning may become more valuable ways of demonstrating that a candidate can apply technical knowledge to real problems.
How much will Ireland’s digital workforce grow by 2030?
Ireland already has a large digital-specialist workforce.
The September 2026 EGFSN report estimates approximately 168,800 digital specialists were employed in Ireland in 2025.
Under its baseline scenario, demand is projected to reach approximately 215,400 by 2030.
That represents an implied increase of approximately 46,600 digital specialists between the two figures.
The report also warns that Ireland’s existing education, training and talent pipelines may not be sufficient to meet demand.
It estimates potential annual shortages of approximately 5,500 specialists by 2030, rising to more than 7,700 under a high-growth scenario.
These numbers are projections rather than guarantees.
They should therefore be interpreted as an indication of the scale of potential skills demand rather than a promise that 215,400 new jobs will be created.
Will AI replace jobs in Ireland?
There is no single answer.
The latest evidence points to job transformation as well as job creation and potential task automation.
The EGFSN says AI is changing rather than simply reducing demand for digital specialists. It expects some routine tasks and aspects of entry-level work to become increasingly automated, while demand rises for advanced capabilities including AI implementation, machine learning, data engineering, cybersecurity and cloud architecture.
PwC’s Irish data also shows strong growth in both AI-user and AI-developer roles.
This means the more useful question for many workers may not be:
“Will AI take my job?”
It may instead be:
“Which parts of my job will AI change, and which skills will become more valuable as a result?”
That question is particularly relevant because PwC’s September 2026 Irish Workforce Hopes and Fears survey found that 51% of Irish workers had used AI in the previous 12 months, while 27% expected AI to completely or significantly transform their roles over the following three years.
What should Irish workers learn?
There is no single AI qualification that guarantees a particular career outcome.
The latest evidence instead points towards combinations of technical and professional capabilities.
AI literacy
Workers increasingly need to understand what AI systems can and cannot do.
This includes:
- Effective use of AI tools
- Prompting and workflow design
- Evaluating AI outputs
- Understanding limitations
- Data privacy
- Responsible AI use
Data skills
Understanding data can increase the usefulness of AI across many professions.
Useful areas include:
- Data analysis
- Data visualisation
- Data quality
- Data governance
- Basic statistics
- Data engineering
Cybersecurity
As digital systems become more complex, cybersecurity skills are increasingly important.
Relevant areas include:
- Security awareness
- Cloud security
- Identity management
- Threat detection
- AI security
- Risk management
Technical skills
Depending on the career path, this could include:
- Software development
- Machine learning
- Cloud architecture
- Automation
- Database technologies
- Systems integration
Human skills
The evidence also points towards the continuing importance of:
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Business understanding
The EGFSN specifically recommends greater emphasis on multidisciplinary and professional capabilities alongside technical skills.
What this means for Irish employers
The skills challenge is not limited to workers.
Employers also need to determine how they will develop their existing workforce.
The EGFSN recommends expanding education and training capacity in high-growth areas, strengthening work-based learning, scaling upskilling and reskilling and improving collaboration between industry and education providers.
PwC’s September 2026 Irish workforce research also points to a potential development gap.
Only 45% of Irish respondents said they strongly or moderately agreed that they had access to the learning and development resources they needed, down from 57% the previous year.
That matters because AI adoption can move faster than formal training programmes.
For employers, the challenge may therefore be twofold:
Recruit the specialist skills that are difficult to find.
and
help existing employees acquire new skills as their jobs change.
Ireland’s AI jobs market is becoming broader
The latest evidence suggests that Ireland’s AI employment market should not be viewed solely through the number of people employed as AI engineers.
The growth of AI-user roles is particularly important.
AI is increasingly becoming a capability embedded in other professions.
That means future AI-related opportunities may emerge in combinations such as:
| Existing expertise | AI-related capability |
|---|---|
| Finance | AI-assisted analysis and risk work |
| Marketing | Generative AI and data analysis |
| Software | AI-assisted development |
| Cybersecurity | AI security and threat analysis |
| Data | Machine learning and AI data pipelines |
| Business analysis | AI-supported decision analysis |
| Operations | AI workflow automation |
| Compliance | AI governance and risk |
| Cloud | AI infrastructure |
| Professional services | AI-enabled specialist work |
These are examples of how AI can intersect with existing expertise; they should not be interpreted as forecasts that every listed profession will experience the same employment growth.
The outlook for AI jobs in Ireland
Ireland enters the next stage of AI adoption with a sizeable technology workforce and an established multinational technology sector.
The new EGFSN research nevertheless identifies a significant future skills challenge.
Digital-specialist demand is projected to rise substantially through 2030, while employers report gaps in technical ability, practical experience, business understanding, communication, adaptability and other multidisciplinary capabilities.
At the same time, PwC’s latest Irish data shows that AI-related hiring is already expanding.
The most important change may therefore be the gradual movement from:
AI as a specialist technology
to:
AI as a workplace capability.
For Irish workers, that means learning how AI connects to an existing profession could be as important as learning AI itself.
For employers, it means recruiting and developing people who can combine technical knowledge with business judgement may become increasingly important.
And for students and graduates, the strongest preparation may not be choosing between “technology” and “non-technology” careers.
It may be learning how technology can strengthen a chosen area of expertise.
Key Takeaways
- AI jobs in Ireland are growing, with PwC reporting that AI-related job postings almost doubled between 2024 and 2025.
- AI-related skills appeared in 3.7% of Irish job postings in 2025, compared with approximately 2.3% in 2024.
- Jobs requiring specific AI skills grew 83% since 2019, compared with 16% growth across the overall Irish jobs market analysed by PwC.
- AI-user roles grew 84% in 2025, faster than AI-developer roles, which grew 73%.
- Ireland had approximately 168,800 digital specialists in 2025, according to EGFSN.
- Demand is projected to reach approximately 215,400 digital specialists by 2030 under the EGFSN baseline scenario.
- Cybersecurity is identified as the fastest-growing technology domain in the EGFSN assessment.
- AI, data, cybersecurity, cloud and software engineering are among the major specialist areas expected to see continued demand.
- Human skills such as judgement, communication, adaptability and leadership remain important as AI changes work.
- The biggest opportunity may increasingly be combining AI skills with existing professional expertise.
FAQs
Are AI jobs growing in Ireland in 2026?
Yes. PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer found that the share of Irish job postings requiring AI-related skills rose from approximately 2.3% in 2024 to 3.7% in 2025. Jobs requiring specific AI skills grew 83% between 2019 and 2025.
What AI jobs are in demand in Ireland?
The latest EGFSN research identifies demand across AI implementation, machine learning, data engineering, cybersecurity, cloud architecture and software engineering. AI-user roles are also becoming increasingly important across the wider workforce.
Do you need to be a programmer to work in AI?
No. AI-user roles account for the majority of AI-related jobs in PwC’s Irish analysis. Many professionals may use AI as part of an existing career without developing AI systems themselves.
What AI skills do Irish employers want?
Demand is growing for AI and machine-learning skills, data, cybersecurity, cloud and software capabilities. Employers also increasingly value communication, critical thinking, adaptability, business understanding and other multidisciplinary skills.
Which technology skill is expected to grow fastest in Ireland?
The EGFSN identifies cybersecurity as the fastest-growing technology domain in its assessment of future digital-specialist demand in Ireland.
How many digital specialists will Ireland need by 2030?
The EGFSN estimates that demand could reach approximately 215,400 digital specialists by 2030, compared with approximately 168,800 employed in 2025 under its baseline scenario. This is a projection rather than a guaranteed employment figure.
Will AI replace jobs in Ireland?
AI is expected to automate some tasks and change some roles, but current Irish evidence also shows growing demand for AI-related skills and digital specialists. The EGFSN expects AI to change rather than simply reduce demand for digital specialists.
What should Irish graduates learn about AI?
There is no single guaranteed AI career path. Useful combinations include AI literacy, data skills, technical knowledge, critical thinking, communication, business understanding and practical experience. The EGFSN specifically recommends stronger multidisciplinary and work-based learning.
Are AI jobs limited to Dublin?
No. The Irish Government’s research identifies regional differences in the availability of digital talent, with digital employment concentrated particularly in Dublin and the Eastern and Midland Region. The report also identifies regional shortages, indicating that digital skills demand extends beyond Dublin.
Are Irish employers providing enough AI training?
There is evidence of a gap. PwC’s September 2026 Irish workforce survey found that 45% of respondents strongly or moderately agreed that they had access to the learning and development resources they needed, down from 57% the previous year.
Sources and Further Reading
- PwC Ireland — 2026 AI Jobs Barometer: AI hiring, AI-user and AI-developer roles, skills transformation and Irish labour-market data.
- Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment — EGFSN Digital Specialists Report: Ireland’s projected digital-specialist demand through 2030.
- Future Skills Ireland — Skills for Digital Specialists: Detailed findings on AI, cybersecurity, data, cloud and software skills.
- PwC Ireland — Workforce Hopes and Fears 2026: Irish worker AI adoption and training data.
