IDA IRELAND AND MIDAS IRELAND LAUNCH MICROELECTRONICS WEEK
RESEARCH LAUNCHED TO COINCIDE WITH WEEK SHOWS MICROELECTRONICS SECTOR TO GENERATE OVER 1300 NEW JOBS IN IRELAND BY 2015
86% OF COMPANIES SURVEYED HAVE MADE INVESTMENT IN THEIR IRISH OPERATIONS IN THE PAST 2 YEARS
MIDAS IRELAND MEMBER COMPANIES ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE 50 OPEN OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECTOR TODAY IN IRELAND AND OVER 200 GRADUATE POSITIONS AVAILABLE TO FILL
DUBLIN, Ireland – Microelectronics Week – Nov. 5th 2012 – New research, conducted among microelectronics firms in Ireland, forecasts that 1300 new jobs will be generated in the sector over the next three years. The research also showed that there were currently over 50 open opportunities in the sector today in Ireland. The sector also shows a strong loyalty to graduates with a target to hire over 200 for graduate programmes throughout 2012/2013. The study, carried out by MIDAS Ireland, the industry-led organisation responsible for promoting the microelectronics industry, marks the beginning of Microelectronics Week, which aims to highlight the contribution of the sector to the Irish economy and its impact on the global market.
Currently employing over 8,000 people in over 55 companies, the microelectronics industry is a significant employer and major contributor to the Irish economy. In addition to highlighting the jobs potential in the sector, today’s study results conducted among MIDAS
member firms, also shows strong levels of continued investment, with 86% of companies surveyed confirming they have made operational and employment investment at their Irish operations over the last 24 months.
This year the number of students taking engineering and science courses in third level has increased. MIDAS Ireland will continue to work with education and Government to improve this number year on year.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD , said: “Information and communications technology is a key target sector in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs and a major growth sector over recent years, with over 5,000 additional people employed in the past 18 months. There are many areas of particularly high growth within this sector, such as microelectronics, cloud computing and digital gaming and we can see today the major potential for employment growth that exists within the microelectronics area. We in Government are determined to continue providing the necessary supports for the growth of this sector.”
Commenting on the launch of Microelectronics week, Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “Ireland continues to attract new investment from across the microelectronics sector. The availability of world-class engineering talent, combined with the “cluster-effect” of existing semiconductor companies in Ireland, all contribute to winning new investments. This year alone, IDA Ireland has announced investment from Hittite Microwave, Microsemi, Xilinx, ZMDI, and M/A COM.”
Commenting on today’s findings and the beginning of Microelectronics week, John Blake, Chairman of Midas said: “I’m delighted to be launching Microelectronics Week again this year and to be highlighting the job opportunities that are available in the sector at the moment. These jobs are ready to be filled today in a range of engineering roles in a variety of companies across the country. In advance of this week MIDAS Ireland surveyed our member companies and we were encouraged to find that there’s a positive pipeline of jobs to come. With a healthy mix of leading multinationals, as well as a growing number of indigenous companies, today’s figures, which forecast the generation of a further 1300 jobs in the sector over the next three years, is a huge vote of confidence in the growing strength of the industry here and in Ireland as a location to do business. The sector has developed a world-class microelectronics industry in Ireland 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 fully realize this growth opportunity it is crucial that we increase the supply of skilled engineers and graduates available to the industry. Midas is working hard with its partners including the Irish third level sector to ensure the necessary supports are in place and that one of its highest priorities is producing a plentiful supply of excellent electronic engineering graduates to fill the engineering positions as they come available. We are also sending out the message to engineering students, second level students and their parents that this industry is hiring and open for business. 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. During the week we’re looking forward to shining a light on the industry and highlighting the innovative work that’s going on in the sector. ”, Mr. Blake concluded.
Microelectronics Week will run from 5th to 9th of November and will see a number of activities taking place. These include the launch of an education competition aimed at third level sector, The MIDAS Annual Conference, a Start-Up Seminar for entrepreneurial community and a series of open day events hosted by microelectronics industry companies, universities and associations.
For further information about Microelectronics Week 2012 log onto www.midasireland.ie . Microelectronics Week is sponsored by a number of MIDAS Ireland partners including IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Analog Devices.
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