Cross Border Skills and Commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland 2026-2

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published a new Skills Insights Note, Cross Border Skills and Commonalities between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The publication examines labour market developments across the two jurisdictions, with a particular focus on cross‑border workers, sectoral employment trends, education profiles and shared skills priorities.

Drawing on the recently published joint census data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the note highlights the similarities and differences in the labour markets of Ireland and Northern Ireland. While cross‑border workers represent a relatively small share of the overall labour force, commuting flows—particularly from Northern Ireland to Ireland—have grown strongly over the past decade, reflecting labour market opportunities and shared economic strengths.

The analysis identifies strong similarities between Ireland and Northern Ireland, including continued reliance on key sectors such as health, retail, manufacturing and education, alongside a shared policy focus on future‑oriented skills in areas such as digitalisation, the green economy and apprenticeships.