Human resource development in Ireland: organizational level evidence

The ability of the Irish economy to continue growing depends not only on demand, but also on supply conditions. While these have remained favourable up to now, there are signs of increasing skill shortages and ongoing pressure on economic infrastructure. It has been established that human resources development (HRD) is vital to maintaining Ireland’s competitiveness internationally. This paper seeks to document the nature of HRD at organizational level in Ireland. Following a brief sketch of the Irish context, we draw on a nationally representative survey of HRD practices and present data on where responsibilities for HRD policy decisions lie, the extent of and the approaches to the identification of HRD needs, HRD coverage and delivery, and the nature of longer‐term developmental activities. Variations between firms of different size, between sectors, between firms of different origin, and between unionized and non‐union environments are, where appropriate, highlighted.