O’Shea Welcomes Strong Growth in Construction Apprenticeships Since 2020

The growth in plumbing, carpentry and electrical apprenticeships is vital to delivering the homes and infrastructure our communities need

Cork North West Fine Gael TD, Deputy John Paul O’Shea, has warmly welcomed the significant increase in the number of construction and construction-related apprenticeships registered annually since 2020, describing the growth as “a clear vote of confidence in apprenticeships and a vital boost for the future of our construction sector.”

Deputy O’Shea was speaking following confirmation from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science that overall registrations across construction and construction-related apprenticeships have increased by 67%, rising from 3,813 in 2020 to 6,362 in 2025.

“This is a very encouraging trend and reflects sustained Government investment in apprenticeship delivery since 2020, with funding more than doubling over that period,” Deputy O’Shea said. “We are seeing real momentum now across a wide range of trades that are absolutely essential to delivering homes, infrastructure and economic growth.”

Deputy O’Shea highlighted particularly strong growth in traditional construction trades, including:

• Plumbing, which increased from 560 registrations in 2020 to 903 in 2025

• Carpentry and Joinery, rising from 563 to 851 registrations over the same period

• Electrical apprenticeships, which saw registrations grow from 1,813 in 2020 to 3,262 in 2025

“These are core skills that every community depends on,” Deputy O’Shea said. “The growth we’re seeing in plumbing, carpentry and electrical apprenticeships is hugely important, especially as we work to accelerate housing delivery and retrofit existing homes.”

The figures also show continued expansion in engineering and construction-related apprenticeships, including civil engineering, quantity surveying and engineering services management, reflecting the increasingly diverse skillset required across the modern construction sector.

Deputy O’Shea noted that construction apprenticeships generally focus on hands-on, site-based training, while construction-related apprenticeships cover a broader range of technical, managerial and design roles that support the industry.

“Apprenticeships provide a high-quality, earn-while-you-learn pathway into well-paid and sustainable careers,” he added. “It’s vital that we continue to promote these options to young people and career-changers alike, and that we ensure industry has the skilled workforce it needs for the years ahead.”

Deputy O’Shea concluded by reaffirming his commitment to supporting further expansion of apprenticeships at both national and local level, particularly in regions like Cork North West where construction skills are critical to meeting housing and infrastructure needs.