How SUSTAIN is Bridging the STEM Gap in Ireland and Germany

The demand for STEM professionals in Europe is growing, yet nearly half of European businesses are struggling to find highly skilled workers to meet their needs.

STEM Shortages in Ireland and Germany

The situation is particularly acute in Ireland, with STEM graduates still below the European average. The demand for STEM professionals in Ireland is projected to increase by 8% by 2025, more than double the growth forecast for all occupations. Many STEM graduates are opting to work abroad, contributing to the widening gap in qualified workers.

Germany is also experiencing a shortage of critical STEM professionals. Key STEM sectors like engineering and IT are experiencing critical labor shortages. This gap is widening due to an ageing population with many experienced professionals approaching retirement and the number of students entering STEM fields in decline.

As a result, companies are struggling to secure the talent needed to drive innovation and economic growth. To address this, Ireland and Germany have introduced initiatives such as the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the Skilled Migration Act to make it easier for skilled workers from non-European countries to fill critical roles. However, these efforts alone are not enough to meet the shortages in the STEM sector.

Bridging the STEM Gap

SUSTAIN, an EU-funded initiative, aims to bridge the widening STEM gap by connecting highly qualified STEM professionals from Nigeria with companies in Ireland and Germany. In doing so, it provides a unique opportunity for skilled Nigerian professionals and European employers to tackle the challenges facing the global STEM workforce.

SUSTAIN offers benefits for both employers and STEM talent. Employers gain access to a pool of pre-vetted, highly skilled candidates, lowering their costs and gaining valuable experience in managing an international labour force. Nigerian workers advance their careers while playing a key role in driving the growth of the STEM sector in both Ireland and Germany.

By fostering global talent mobility, SUSTAIN enables companies in Ireland and Germany to address their STEM workforce shortages, while also serving as a model for similar initiatives to attract and integrate international talent into Europe’s STEM sectors.