Ibec’s Bold Move: How the 2nd Manufacturing Day Could Crack the Talent Code and Ignite Ireland’s Economic Future
Ever wondered if manufacturing is still stuck in the past, with dusty assembly lines and repetitive tasks? Well, it’s high time we kick that old-school image to the curb. Ibec’s rolling out the red carpet for the second annual Manufacturing Day Ireland on October 2, 2026 — a nationwide shoutout inviting manufacturers to fling open their doors and reveal the dazzling, high-tech heart beating beneath Ireland’s industry. From MedTech marvels to BioPharma breakthroughs, and from cutting-edge engineering to innovative food and drink production, this campaign is a full-throttle spotlight on a sector buzzing with opportunity and innovation. But here’s the kicker — a fresh Ibec survey found that over half of parents still peg manufacturing as old-fashioned labor, while most acknowledge it’s fantastic for training, job security, and career growth! There’s a clear gap between myth and reality, and these site tours and tech demos aim to smash those stereotypes, showing young people the earn-and-learn paths that could lead to top-tier degrees and careers. Ready for a game-changer in how we see the making of tomorrow? LEARN MORE
Ibec has launched the second annual Manufacturing Day Ireland, calling on manufacturers across the country to open their facilities to local communities, schools and jobseekers.
The nationwide campaign will take place on Friday, 2 October 2026, with businesses encouraged to host site tours, technology demonstrations and career talks to showcase opportunities across the sector.
Ibec said the initiative aims to challenge perceptions of manufacturing while highlighting the high-tech nature of Ireland’s industry, which spans MedTech, BioPharma, Food & Drink, engineering and technology.
The call comes as new research commissioned by Ibec suggests a gap remains between perceptions of manufacturing and the career opportunities available.
A survey of parents with children aged 25 and under found that 52% still associate manufacturing with legacy assembly-line work, while 41% associate it with repetitive manual labour.
However, respondents rated the sector highly for training and skills development, with 75% saying manufacturing was as good as or better than other sectors in this area. Some 68% gave the same assessment for job security, while 66% said the sector offered comparable or better opportunities for career progression.
The survey also found strong support for apprenticeships, with 55% of parents saying they would encourage their child to pursue one.
However, 53% were unaware that manufacturing apprenticeships are available.
“Irish manufacturing is advanced, highly automated, and essential to our economic future,” said Sharon Higgins, executive director of memberships and sectors at Ibec.
Higgins said there was still work to be done in raising awareness of alternative routes into manufacturing, including earn-and-learn programmes that can lead to Level 8 Honours Degrees.
“Manufacturing Day Ireland gives businesses a direct opportunity to open their doors, dispel legacy stereotypes, and highlight the range of jobs, innovation, and high-skill development available to young people,” she said.
Ibec is inviting manufacturers of all sizes to participate either as event hosts or campaign supporters, with the latter able to share employee stories and hold internal celebrations.
The organisation said the campaign will also highlight Ireland’s manufacturing R&D capabilities and the diversity of roles available across the industry.
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