We Can't Build Ireland's Future Without Skilled Trades
Next year, 2026, Callaghan Electrical will mark our 30th year in business. Over the last three decades, Ireland has experienced seismic economic growth and prosperity. Public, education and training policy and in particular programmes from organisations such as IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have been hugely impactful. Collectively, Ireland has attracted investment from overseas multinationals and at the same time managed to nurture phenomenal innovation and growth amongst indigenous Irish businesses and entrepreneurs.
As a nation, we’ve much to be proud of. As a company, we, Callaghan Electrical, have ridden the same prosperity wave, and thankfully, with more peaks than troughs. We are proud of what we have built and achieved as a team, the clients and partners we’ve the privilege to work with, the calibre of projects we’ve delivered, and our contribution to our communities.
But I have one gripe.
Year-on-year since our inception in 1996, it gets increasingly difficult to find the talent and skills we need to fuel our growth. Despite our reputation as an employer of choice for qualified electricians, and our apprenticeship programmes that source and nurture new talent, we have accepted the industry skill shortage as just a perennial challenge. To thrive, we operate in a natural state of constant vigilance on ensuring we
have more than enough skills at the right time and in the right place. This is so we can follow through on client commitments and strict project deadlines. There is no room for error. We don’t let them down. It’s the cornerstone of how we’ve built the business – organic, gradual growth including the ongoing bolstering of our team as we go.
However, this time of year, the perennial challenge gets me thinking. If Ireland was awash with skilled trades, in addition to the next generations considering it as a smart career choice, I can only imagine how big and developed we [ and Ireland ] would be! There is so much need. There is so much opportunity.
That’s why I wonder if, as a country, are we strategically distracted? Despite our economic growth and success, everything seems to get stifled by not having enough modern skilled trades. It’s ironic that as we set our eyes on building what’s new, what’s next, investing in future technologies and trends, we struggle to build the basic infrastructure [ the houses, apartments, commercial enterprises, schools, hospitals ] to sustain just what’s needed now - not to mention the rosy future monopolising our focus.
Simply put, our country does not have enough modern skilled trades.
The problem is compounded by the inability of our youth to rent, buy or build. Our IT, engineering, medical and life science graduates come through a fine-tuned educate system - yet for so many they believe for their future, livelihood and wellbeing, they’ve no option but to go afield. They pursue [what’s perceived to be] brighter horizons overseas. Australia and Canada to name a few.
While I appreciate building infrastructure is a multi-faceted challenge, the youth talent drain, including modern skilled trades, is holding us back. The lack of infrastructure and the lack of talent to build it is a catch 22.
There is another way. I call for two policy changes:
Trades, including electrical contracting, offer practical, well-paid paths to future-proofed careers. It is something young people are not being shown clearly enough. I call on policy makers across government and education to urgently reprioritise the training and development of modern skilled trades, including electricians, in Ireland. We need to reframe trades as the career of choice for ambitious, practical, and capable people. The starting point of this are apprenticeships. We can’t build the infrastructure that future Ireland requires, if we neglect to build modern skilled trades amongst our next generations of talent. Building homes and infrastructure faster and to the highest standards means building teams that are skilled, local, and future-focused.
In the 60s, 70s and 80s, we had the policy foresight to intervene and support the building of public, social and affordable housing. That’s what the times called for. Surely, today, with such highly-qualified, capable and skilled school leavers and graduates coming through – professionals with high career potential and renumeration - we need to spin that policy making on its head. It’s time to cut red tape. Its time intervene and support private development across the country – for housing, apartments and infrastructure our young talent deserve. I have always believed that you must offer solutions. So how do we achieve this? By ensuring a minimum of 40% of every development granted planning permission is available for private purchase with a fall back scheme (secured by government) that allows developers to ensure they can get the access to required funding.
Since our inception, our company and our country growth has been connected at the hip. They’re both dependent on having enough modern skilled trades. Policy support for sustainable private development enables both, ensuring our future generations futures are here.
This summer, like every summer, we launch our seasonal recruitment drive for both apprentice and experienced electricians. We currently have 12 apprentice electrician opportunities and a further 6 open roles for experienced electricians in Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Dublin. We want to encourage school finishers, college graduates, and career changers interested in a practical, in-demand profession to consider electrical contracting as a sustainable career choice. We are particularly keen to attract early-career individuals who may be considering alternative paths, instead of travelling overseas for a period or emigrating.
Kieran Callaghan, Managing Director, Callaghan Electrical
