MICROELECTRONICS COMPANIES OFFER GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING STUDENTS
Midas Ireland encourages CAO applicants to consider electronic engineering
Ireland – Jan. 25 th 2013
Research, conducted by Midas Ireland among microelectronics firms in Ireland, forecasts that significant numbers of jobs will be created in the sector over the coming years. The sector shows a strong demand for engineering graduates, planning to hire over 200 graduates on an annual basis. As leaving certificate students are making their CAO choices at this time, Midas Ireland encourages them to consider applications to electronic engineering courses which would position them to be ready for these positions when they graduate.
Currently employing over 8,000 people in over 55 companies, the microelectronics industry is a significant employer and a major contributor to the Irish economy. Midas Ireland member firms show strong levels of continued investment, with the majority of companies having made significant operational and employment investments at their Irish operations over the last 2 years.
In recent years, the number of students taking engineering, computing and science courses at third level has increased. MIDAS Ireland continues to work with the education sector and Government to encourage and support this upward trend. Microelectronics is no different from the rest of the greater ICT sector in generating significant career opportunities at a time when Ireland is in need of career opportunities for its young highly educated workforce.
Commenting on the growth of the Microelectronics sector, Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “ Ireland continues to attract valuable investment from the microelectronics sector. The availability of world-class engineering talent, particularly electronic engineering talent, is a key element in winning new investment projects. Over the last two years alone, Intel, Analog Devices, Xilinx, Microsemi, On Semiconductor, Hittite Microwave, ZMDI, and M/A COM have all announced very significant investments for Ireland ”.
Commenting on the career opportunities in Microelectronics, John Blake, Chairman of Midas Ireland said,
“ In Ireland, a world-class microelectronics industry has developed over the last four decades which today employs over 8,000 people and contributes €6bn annually in exports to the Irish economy. However in order to support future growth it is important that we increase the supply of engineering graduates available to the industry.
We want to get the message out to leaving cert students and their parents that this industry is open for business and hiring. Our industry provides exciting, challenging and rewarding careers, creating products and technologies that have significant positive impact on how we live and on our environment. Engineering generally is a very valuable education, with a wide variety of career options open to graduates. At this time, as CAO choices are being made, we want to encourage students to consider choosing a course in electronic engineering which would position them for opportunities in Microelectronics and other areas of ICT ” Mr Blake concluded.
For further information about the MIDAS Ireland competition log onto www.midasireland.ie or contact Katherine Barry, MIDAS Co-ordinator on 021-4904375 or info@midasireland.ie
