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The growth of apprenticeships is attributed to the increasing range of skills available through the apprenticeship process, making it a more attractive option for young people compared to university life. Apprenticeships offer paid work experience, on-the-job training, and mentorship, allowing individuals to acquire skills and knowledge in a particular area of expertise. This is in contrast to university students, who are unpaid and often have to balance work and study, limiting their ability to engage in social and sporting activities. The cost of accommodation and living costs can be a significant barrier to university education, making apprenticeships a more viable option for many young people.
Being paid while you study is a key factor, and there are more than 80 programmes available across all sectors of the economy A three-year wind turbine maintenance technician apprenticeship trains you for work in the growing renewable and sustainable energy sectorAn apprenticeship is a paid job where the person employed acquires knowledge and skills in a particular area of expertise.
Apprentices acquire skills through on-the-job and off-the-job training. On-the-job apprentices are supported through a dedicated mentor to learn through daily work and on-the-job assessments. In essence, a university student is not contracted to a specific employer in their field of study or discipline and is not paid during their degree, whereas an apprentice is.
A university student, being unpaid, has more time to socialise with other university students and engage in clubs and societies where social and intimate relationships are formed, which often shape the student’s entire future. Restricted courses: It’s difficult when everyone around you is going, ‘oh, you’ll get in’However, to experience university life in this way requires a level of financial independence that is way beyond the reach of a large proportion of school leavers today, particularly given the cost of accommodation.
Many university students therefore spend 20 to 30 hours weekly commuting back and forth to their college campus and have no opportunities to engage in the social and sporting life of college. Moreover, most students are part-time work to pay their accommodation and living costs, which again restricts their ability to engage in college social and sporting activities.
Given this reality, it is not surprising that many young people are now choosing the apprenticeship route when deciding on their next move following the completion of their second-level education. This growth is turbocharged by the huge increase in the range of skills now available through the apprenticeship process.
Furthermore, when they complete their apprenticeship, the students receive a QQI award, ranging from a level 6 to level 9 master’s – eg in Social Work at University College Cork; Advanced Quantity Surveyor at Technological University of the Shannon , or PhD level 10, Principal Engineer, at University of Limerick. Before the recent expansion of the apprenticeship structure in the State, apprenticeships were primarily associated with the construction and motor trades.
Over the past 10 years, in co-operation with industry bodies, the range of apprenticeships has grown to cover the entire economy. As of the end of July, 2026, there are more than 80 apprenticeship programmes available in the State across 17 sectors, with many more in development. Industry sectors involved include engineering, construction, ICT, hospitality and food, and finance and logistics.
Women make up 9.5 per cent of apprentices, with 2,887 women registered as apprentices as of the end of July 2026, compared to 2 per cent in 2018. Depending on the type of apprenticeship they pursue, apprentices can gain a qualification ranging from level 5 to level 10 on the national framework of qualifications.
Apprenticeships are highly regarded by employers, increasing the chances of finding a job after completing training – in fact, many former apprentices stay with their employer for many years after. Since apprentices are paid employees and the training costs are often covered by the employer, the financial burden of education is significantly reduced. Software development:Develops skills and provides expertise in the area of regulation and compliance, financial products and services, and client communications.
Two years, NFQ level 6 and level 8 programmes available. This apprenticeship helps those looking to pursue a career in the maintenance of large-scale wind turbines, meeting the needs of the growing renewable and sustainable energy sector. Three years, NFQ level 6. Apprenticeships are available in agriculture and horticulture, bio pharma, construction, electrical, engineering, finance, hairdressing, health and social, hospitality and food, ICT, insurance, logistics, motor, property services, recruitment, business and operations, and sales and marketing.
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