Ireland is emerging as a leading location for AI skills and employment, but a new report warns that smaller businesses risk falling behind as adoption gathers pace.

Ireland is generating AI-related jobs at between two and three times the pace of neighbouring countries, according to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

The Irish Labour Market and AI in 2026 finds that the share of job advertisements referencing AI has doubled since 2023. Ireland also ranked joint fourth globally for its concentration of AI talent and recorded the fourth-highest net inflow of workers with AI skills.

However, adoption remains uneven. In 2025, 57.3% of large enterprises in Ireland reported using AI, compared with 28% of medium-sized businesses and 16.8% of small enterprises.

The report warns that this could create a two-speed economy in which larger firms capture a disproportionate share of AI-related productivity gains. Smaller businesses are more likely to face barriers involving cost, access to skills and their capacity to introduce the technology effectively.

The immediate effect of AI also appears to be the reorganisation of work rather than widespread job displacement. Businesses are using it to save time, automate routine tasks and allow employees to concentrate on higher-value work. This is changing the skills required within existing roles and increasing the importance of training and lifelong learning.

For North West businesses, the findings underline the importance of practical adoption. This does not mean every company needs to recruit an AI specialist. Instead, businesses will require the skills to identify useful applications, support employees and manage issues involving data, accuracy and accountability.

The regional challenge will be ensuring that smaller firms and workers can access the skills and support needed to benefit from AI as its use expands.

The North West AI Masterclass, coordinated by Derry Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Causeway Chamber, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Letterkenny Chamber. Having completed a very successful first cohort we are now taking expressions of interest for the second cohort now, you can email joshk@londonderrychamber.co.uk 

Read The Irish Labour Market and AI in 2026 on the Future Skills Ireland website.