Urgent measures to facilitate access to the workplace for a range of groups, including non-nationals and people with disabilities, are called for in a report published yesterday.
It warns that action is needed on a number of fronts if workplaces are to adapt to a rapidly changing economic environment.
The report, by the Forum on the Workplace of the Future, provides a blueprint for the successful Irish workplace in 2010 and beyond.
It identifies basic skill gaps in literacy, numeracy and foreign languages, as well as in management and leadership, that need to be addressed if workplaces are to maximise their potential.
It highlights barriers that currently inhibit lone parents, people with disabilities, older people and non-nationals from participating in the workforce and says there is a "serious under-utilisation" of women's high standards of education and skills.
The lack of affordable childcare, the report argues, is a critical factor in keeping women out of the workplace.
It also calls on the Government to implement a "transparent economic immigration policy", by bringing forward the Employment Permits Bill as a matter of urgency.
The Bill is expected to include provision for a "green card" system which would allow skilled migrant workers and their families from outside the EU permanent residency rights in the State.
Non-nationals, the report points out, currently make up a small but growing proportion of the workforce, and it is estimated that an additional 30,000 workers from outside the State will be required in the coming years to meet labour market demands.
The 112-page report, which was launched by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, follows a year-long consultation process by the forum, which was established by the National Centre for Partnership and Performance.
The forum held six public conferences and received written submissions from nearly 50 groups or individuals.
Its report says that many workplaces are missing out on opportunities to improve capacity for change by failing to communicate and consult effectively with employees.
It calls on employers to increase employee involvement in the workplace through improved information flows and consultation.
It points to a survey of employees in the private sector in which just over half the respondents said they hardly ever received information about company reorganisation or sales and profits.
"Employees who report higher levels of consultation regarding decisions affecting their work are much more likely to be willing to accept change," it says.
The report also says that the rapid pace of change towards a "knowledge society" poses particular challenges for Irish workplaces. "Much of the technology that is fuelling the Irish economy is generated overseas."
Efforts to improve knowledge and skills in the workforce will have to address a number of challenges, it says.
These include the fact that an additional 300,000 employees with third-level qualifications will be required over the next five years.
By 2015, one in four people will be employed in knowledge-intensive professions, the report predicts.
Meeting these challenges will require a broadening of lifelong-learning initiatives as well as an increased range of workplace training programmes.
"There is a particular need to develop initiatives that will encourage greater participation by groups that are still under-represented in the workforce."
A critical issue for the future, it says, will be the ability to increase the labour supply by encouraging people to stay longer in the workforce, increasing the number of women working outside the home and attracting labour from outside Ireland.
"Up to 420,000 additional workers must be attracted into the Irish economy in the period up to 2010," it says. Of these, 150,000 would come from outside the State.
At the launch of the report in Dublin, Lucy Fallon Byrne, director of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, said improving the capacity of workplaces to change and innovate should be given the same priority and support as research and development.
Report: main recommendations
Childcare supports should be improved "as a matter of urgency".
Public service should give a lead to the private sector by increasing recruitment of people with disabilities.
Enhanced measures are needed to actively support women returning to the workplace.
Employment Permits Bill should be urgently brought forward to begin a "transparent economic immigration policy".
Employees should be consulted more about changes in workplace.
Life-long learning opportunities should be increased and training in the workplace widened.
A dedicated fund should be established to promote workplace innovation.
Dispute resolution procedures should be strengthened by agreement among the social partners.
