Unemployment in Northern Ireland - the big white Elephant in the room

[whiskeysteve]

a man in the know told me this year the course that produces the highest number of graduates in Queens/NI - Psychology - says it all.

Also Law must be the most overrated degree going these days.

All respect to those of you with psychology/law degrees, you may have very worthy roles in society - just not economic drivers!! Plus the bleeding solicitors that eventually do work their asses off to get a job then go on to be a bane on the businesses round them! - billing ye 00's for posting letters  !!

A relation of mine wanted to do a part time course on CAD with a local tech - something that is central to the majority of engineering firms and competency in an industry standard like Solidworks is in demand with a lot of manufacturing SMEs. Anyway he rang up to enquire and the course had been cancelled due to only 2 enrolling - meanwhile the bloody hairdressing course is packed out.

All starts in the schools - the teachers rarely have experience of industry and are not equipped to even identify technical careers never mind guide pupils toward them. Getting the odd suit to pop in for an hours presentation every few months doesnt cut it either.

Surely some of the leading tech/engineering firms could be incentivised to provide full time liasons with more schools (to their own benefit also). Looking back our school cirriculum was a joke for career guidance - the blind leading the blind!

[armaghniac]

Surely some of the leading tech/engineering firms could be incentivised to provide full time liasons with more schools (to their own benefit also). Looking back our school cirriculum was a joke for career guidance - the blind leading the blind!

I don't think industry or business in Ireland does a good job of encouraging a supply of suitable people. There is a bit of megaphone diplomacy about "skills shortages", but very little engagement with schools, colleges etc to improve the situation. Everyone wants to hire "experienced" people without any clear plan as to where those experienced people are to come from originally.

[CD]

Surely some of the leading tech/engineering firms could be incentivised to provide full time liasons with more schools (to their own benefit also). Looking back our school cirriculum was a joke for career guidance - the blind leading the blind!

I don't think industry or business in Ireland does a good job of encouraging a supply of suitable people. There is a bit of megaphone diplomacy about "skills shortages", but very little engagement with schools, colleges etc to improve the situation. Everyone wants to hire "experienced" people without any clear plan as to where those experienced people are to come from originally.

How many of you received ANY relevant training in 3rd Level Education. Aside from the medical professions, the training doesn't begin until post degree. I learnt more in the first 2 months of my job than in 5 years at University. If there is a dearth of graduates in engineering, firms need to offer on the job training to 17/18 year olds. Is University even necessary?? There are grants and sweetners out there to encourage this. They can also 'sponsor' cherry picked students through University and with increasing fees, this could be a great solution to the problem.

[Corner Forward]

a man in the know told me this year the course that produces the highest number of graduates in Queens/NI - Psychology - says it all.

Also Law must be the most overrated degree going these days.

All respect to those of you with psychology/law degrees, you may have very worthy roles in society - just not economic drivers!! Plus the bleeding solicitors that eventually do work their asses off to get a job then go on to be a bane on the businesses round them! - billing ye 00's for posting letters  !!

A relation of mine wanted to do a part time course on CAD with a local tech - something that is central to the majority of engineering firms and competency in an industry standard like Solidworks is in demand with a lot of manufacturing SMEs. Anyway he rang up to enquire and the course had been cancelled due to only 2 enrolling - meanwhile the bloody hairdressing course is packed out.

All starts in the schools - the teachers rarely have experience of industry and are not equipped to even identify technical careers never mind guide pupils toward them. Getting the odd suit to pop in for an hours presentation every few months doesnt cut it either.

Surely some of the leading tech/engineering firms could be incentivised to provide full time liasons with more schools (to their own benefit also). Looking back our school cirriculum was a joke for career guidance - the blind leading the blind!
[/quo

Totally agree, went to a grammar school myself  and the main drive was to get as many pupils to university as possible. Very little resoucres were given to actually advising students of job prospects post university meant majority went on to study a degree that didnt lead to any direct employment. A lot are now finding themselves in the same position as a school leaver at 16 only with £20,000 more debt.

A major problem for the NI economy is that we export little to nothing therefore we rely heavily on the service and public sectors to create jobs. Our school leavers are either amongst the best performing or worst performing students in the uk. The top performers tend to go abroad as there arent jobs here to meet their skill level (hence the brain drain) whilst those that remain often lack the skills to get whatever jobs may be going. Foreign firms who may be considering investing here are then put off by, amongst other things, the poor skill level that exists within the workforce.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Surely some of the leading tech/engineering firms could be incentivised to provide full time liasons with more schools (to their own benefit also). Looking back our school cirriculum was a joke for career guidance - the blind leading the blind!

I don't think industry or business in Ireland does a good job of encouraging a supply of suitable people. There is a bit of megaphone diplomacy about "skills shortages", but very little engagement with schools, colleges etc to improve the situation. Everyone wants to hire "experienced" people without any clear plan as to where those experienced people are to come from originally.

How many of you received ANY relevant training in 3rd Level Education. Aside from the medical professions, the training doesn't begin until post degree. I learnt more in the first 2 months of my job than in 5 years at University. If there is a dearth of graduates in engineering, firms need to offer on the job training to 17/18 year olds. Is University even necessary?? There are grants and sweetners out there to encourage this. They can also 'sponsor' cherry picked students through University and with increasing fees, this could be a great solution to the problem.

My training was very relevant but I think you are correct most 3'rd level education is theory and has little use in an individual's chosen career.

[AZOffaly]

My education in UL was very relevant and pragmatic. The Co-op initiative was great as well as it put all that into perspective. You could see how what you were learning was applicable, while you were still only half way through the 4 years.

[bailestil]

My Degree in QUB should have in theory been a perfect match for my current job.
In reality, it was little to no relevance to me, either technically or non-technically.

complete waste of money. How and why people are paying 20/30k to do a degree these days i've no idea.

[lawnseed]

And yet when 600 temporary jobs are created in H&W they have to go to Briain and Europe to fill the posts.

where are these jobs.. no word of it on their website

[illdecide]

Your eyes are not close enough to see it

[lawnseed]

Your eyes are not close enough to see it

yeah that's what i'm thinking.. of course the great way of balancing the books in that particular dept is to employ polish workers they are sort of taigs

[Rois]

If anyone has the patience and ability to survive on a meagre salary for three years, I can't recommend chartered accountancy more highly - there are loads of jobs around for a qualified accountant.  If you know anyone with half an interest in business, tell them to go down that route first and take the pain.

I just wish I'd done a different degree (instead of Accounting) because it wasn't really all that interesting!

[T Fearon]

Relax! Was at a Business Breakfast addressed by Simon Hamilton in Belfast this morning and another chap from the NICEP. All the indicators, bar none, are positive, 30,000 new jobs forecasted for the next 5 years (7,000 in the Health Service Alone), but big onus on Private Sector to drive growth, and to present coherent unified strategies to Government. Enterprise Zones on the way, and Corporation Tax devolution will cure all our ailments.

We were told to stop complaining that Government doesn't understand business when in reality business doesn't understand government either. Government described as a Supertanker that can only be turned slowly and by skilful strategies.

[lawnseed]

a lot of openings in the kissagram/male escort business.. no messing.. big money to be earned- no need for degrees. baby oil for nothing in lidl.. happy days. i'd say it'd be great craic

[imtommygunn]

My degree would have been pretty relevant too.

Depends on how practical your degree is really.

[illdecide]

I was in Hays today in Belfast for future Civil Engineering Consultancy roles...at the minute it's still relatively quiet but he said there are signs that things are picking up but very slowly. Manufacturing seems to be flying though.