National initiative aims to help ensure people across Ireland can access the skills needed to participate in an AI-enabled economy.
– FIT (Fastrack into Information Technology) today announced a commitment to upskill 400,000 people in artificial intelligence by 2030. The goal is to address the emerging AI skills gap by equipping individuals across Ireland with the necessary skills to access the diverse opportunities being created by AI.
The commitment will be delivered through FIT’s AI Training Centre of Excellence, which connects learners with AI education, training and certification opportunities through a growing ecosystem of technology, industry and education partners.
The announcement comes as organisations across every sector explore how AI can enhance productivity, transform ways of working and unlock new opportunities for economic growth. The World Economic Forum estimates that 59% of the global workforce will require training by 2030, while 39% of workers’ existing skills are expected to be transformed or become outdated over the same period.
In Ireland, Accenture research found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of the workforce need reskilling, underlining the scale and urgency of preparing people for AI-enabled work.
With Ireland’s workforce at approximately 2.9 million people, FIT sees helping 400,000 individuals develop AI capabilities by 2030 as a meaningful contribution towards preparing the country for the future of work.
Peter Davitt, CEO of FIT, said:
“The profile of Ireland’s workforce and the roles people perform will be radically transformed by the capabilities of AI in the years ahead. We want to ensure that people from every part of society are future-fit, equipped with the skills and confidence needed to take advantage of the employment opportunities and wider benefits AI will create.”
“Our ambition is to ensure access to AI skills is not limited by background, education, employment status or geography. By helping 400,000 people develop AI capabilities by 2030, we aim to support an inclusive approach to workforce transformation that benefits individuals, employers and the wider Irish economy.”
Nathan Cullen, Country General Manager, IBM Ireland, which runs IBM SkillsBuild – a free digital education programme, available to learners through FIT’s AI Training Centre of Excellence, said:
“The countries best placed to benefit most from AI will be those that invest in their people as much as the technology itself. Building a workforce equipped with the skills needed to adopt, develop and apply AI will be critical to Ireland’s future competitiveness, innovation and economic growth.”
“Through IBM SkillsBuild, we are proud to make AI learning resources available to FIT’s learners, helping more people access practical AI learning opportunities and to support FIT’s goal of development of the AI skills needed by Ireland’s workforce for the future.”
Supporting individuals at every stage of their AI journey
Launched in August 2026, FIT’s AI Training Centre of Excellence was created to help individuals navigate the rapidly expanding AI learning ecosystem and access training opportunities from leading technology and education providers.
Collaboration is central to the Centre’s approach. FIT is working with a growing network of technology, industry and education partners that contribute learning resources, specialist expertise and training opportunities. The Centre currently connects learners with programmes including IBM SkillsBuild, Accenture Learning to Earning, Intel Digital Readiness Program, and Google AI learning resources.
Rather than creating another standalone content library, the AI Training Centre of Excellence is designed to assess learners’ current capabilities, provide guidance and map individuals to learning pathways aligned with their existing knowledge, interests and career goals.
Across its online platforms, FIT currently estimates an annual impact of between 10,000 and 15,000 users. The organisation plans to build on that reach through current and future partnerships as it works towards its 400,000-person ambition by 2030.
Enabling Ireland to capture the AI opportunity
FIT believes developing AI skills at scale will be critical not only for individuals, but also for Ireland’s future economic competitiveness. The initiative aligns with Ireland’s National Digital and AI Strategy and its ambition to increase AI adoption and skills opportunities across enterprise, the public sector and wider society.
Accenture estimates that generative AI could add up to €148 billion to Ireland’s annual GDP by 2038, representing a 22% increase over the baseline forecast. Its research also suggests the technology could lift Ireland’s long-term growth rate by 55%, provided organisations take a people-centred approach and invest in the skills required to use AI effectively.
Through the AI Training Centre of Excellence, FIT aims to support people at all stages of their career journey and from different socioeconomic circumstances, including students, jobseekers, apprentices, career changers, employees, public-sector workers, SMEs and business leaders.
By combining assessment, guidance and access to high-quality learning resources, FIT aims to help individuals develop the knowledge and capabilities required to thrive in an increasingly AI-enabled economy. For more information about FIT’s AI Training Centre of Excellence, visit FIT’s website.
