Job rotation could solve the labour shortages and skills gap emerging in the Irish economy over the longer term, as well as giving unemployed people much needed work experience and training, according to a new study.

Speaking at the presentation of business consultants Farrell Grant Sparks' report on the NOW/ Northside Partnership/Aer Rianta Jobrotation Programme to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the report's author, Ms Anne Marie O'Connor, said that job rotation had worked successfully in Denmark in the 1980s and could be also used here. "There is a pressing need to address labour shortages and the skills gap emerging across all sectors of the Irish economy."

Job rotation has been pioneered in the Republic by the Northside partnership and Aer Rianta in Dublin's northside to provide a solution to staff re-training needs in the duty free at Dublin Airport.

The system allows employers to train their staff by supplying a pool of specifically trained substitutes to take on the duties of employees while they are upgrading their skills through offsite training. The unemployed people, who are substituting, are also provided with skills-specific training and real work experience.

Farrell Grant Sparks believes a nationwide pilot job rotation programme embracing both the public and private sectors needs to be implemented over the next two years.

Ms O'Connor said that 12 pilot projects should be started around the country with initial subsidies being given to employers, particularly SMEs, to participate in the programme by the Government.