DfE outlines priorities to boost jobs, productivity, and regional growth.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) published its Skills Action Plan this month, setting out a comprehensive roadmap to prepare Northern Ireland’s workforce for the decade ahead.

The plan aims to increase the number of good jobs, promote regional balance, raise productivity, and reduce carbon emissions, themes that resonate strongly with employers across the North West. It builds on the 2022 Skills Strategy, updating the approach to reflect new realities such as rapid technological change, shifting labour markets, and evolving industry needs.

The plan acknowledges a mixed labour market picture while unemployment remains low at 1.5%, but economic inactivity stands at 26.6%, among the highest in the UK. Productivity also lags both UK and Republic of Ireland benchmarks.

Northern Ireland faces two defining pressures – technological disruption, with AI and automation reshaping jobs and required skills, and an ageing population, which will constrain labour supply in the coming decade. The Plan positions skills policy as a key lever to address both challenges.

The Skills Action Plan is structured around the three main pillars of Collaborate, Improve, and Create, with each backed by  actions, delivery partners, and timelines.

The Department has committed to a progress report by September 2026, guided by a Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy to ensure delivery remains evidence-based and transparent.

Success will depend on collaboration, flexibility, and leadership. The Plan calls for stronger cross-departmental alignment, better data, and improved governance to prevent duplication and fragmentation in the skills system.

For businesses, the Skills Action Plan represents a signal that government recognises the urgency of building a workforce ready for the digital and green economy. With major investments in higher and further education, apprenticeships, and lifelong learning, the strategy seeks to ensure Northern Ireland can meet the demands of a rapidly changing world of work and that regions like the North West can realise their full potential as drivers of innovation and inclusive growth.

Read the full DfE Skills Action Plan here.