Ireland
ICCI Global Council Report – 13th November 2015
1.
What is happening in your country in the economy, politically and labor market
Irish Economy: Tax revenues were €893m above target in the year to July with €653m coming
from corporation tax, according to the latest Exchequer returns
The past years The Irish services PMI (purchasing managers index) survey that includes the big US
firms such as Google and Microsoft who book foreign sales in Ireland for tax purposes, shows a surge
in activity in July but on Wednesday the CSO reported that its monthly services index which excludes
financial services has risen only by 2.1% in the 12 months to June.
The seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index – which is based on a single question asking
respondents to report on the actual change in business activity at their companies compared to one
month ago – rose to 63.4 in July from 63.3 in June, its highest reading since September 2006.
Activity has now risen on a monthly basis throughout the past three years. Panellists mainly linked the
latest increase in activity to improving economic conditions. Business sentiment was strongly positive
in July, and unchanged from that seen in June as companies predict further improvements in
economic conditions to create opportunities for growth. Total new business rose at the third-fastest
pace in the survey’s history during July, behind only those in July and August of 2000.
Unemployment Rate -The Central Statistics Office (CSO) last published unemployment report is
separate from the Live Register. The official unemployment rate was 9.8% in May but up to 440,000
people rather than the 209,700 people who are officially unemployed, are in receipt of some form of
public unemployment benefit/welfare support
Those most at risk – We suffer like a lot of the world from a growing population of over 50’s who
once were employed in factories or in construction who will find it hard to ever gain full time
employment again. They depend on the black economy for work here and there.
In our favour –We currently have the youngest population in the EU and this means we are an
attractive open economy for particularly Silicon Valley entrepreneurial companies to set up as the their
European HQ here. The companies include Google, Apple, Amazon, LinkedIn, Paypal, Twitter,
Facebook, Indeed, Yahoo. They call this our Global Tech Cluster and it has become a place to come.
We have recently lost out the Web Summit to Portugal for the next 3 years and this is a loss.
Election –We have an election in the Spring, no definitive date called yet but likely February 2016.
The Government is a coalition and the junior party is forecast to lose out in the election. It is predicted
that two right wing parties who are civil war Foes will come together for the first time in Irish history.
The other option is a growing left wing element but they will fail to get an overall majority with a lot of
independents.
Education System –We have attracted a number of high tech US Multinationals into Ireland and the
education system is targeting STEM learning. The numbers now studying science and maths has seen
a good increase. We still have quite a traditional education system in second and third level and in my
view this needs a radical overhaul.
2.
What is happening in the profession of career coaching?
Career Guidance budgets in schools was cut back in the recessionary years here as other
subjects took more precedence. But we are focused on a points system for college here and this
unfortunately took less priority.
Career Coaching is becoming very popular with many coaches springing up providing one to one
career coaching. The quality is varied and is widely word of mouth referral. Many of these career
coaches enter the profession for a number of years and then potentially go back to employment
as they can’t make it pay or make it a portfolio career. For this reason, there are a lot of
professional women with kids who make extra money on the side taking private coaching as they
can’t go back to full time work hours.
Corporate career coaching is where we operate in the main and the requirement is growing for
our services. There is a combination of face to face, skype and tele-coaching available allied to
technology career portal resources. This blended approach of technology and face to face is
proving very popular.
Government funded career coaching is targeted at long term unemployed mostly. The
Government tendered for this work but it was mostly very low cost high volume providers from the
UK that won the regional tenders. Providers are paid on a percentage and based on placement
for full fee. We did not enter into this tendering process as it was impossible to make it pay and
also I don’t believe in the concept as a sustainable solution.
Universities are supporting Career Development for researchers and also women in STEM
Careers as there is a fall off when they reach a certain level. The glass ceiling effect.
3.
What is going on in professional career coaching organizations?
The market is dominated by the two large global providers Right and Le Hecht Harrison. They
mostly deliver under franchise cheaper programmes that have been sold in the US as a global
programme. This is the main barrier we find in tendering for work. Most coaches are part time
associate coaches working on projects that are piecemeal. The large scale outplacement
programmes have slowed down dramatically with the improving economy. Talent attraction and
career development programmes are becoming more popular again with increased learning and
development funding.
4.
What strategies are career coaches using to compete in today’s market place (ref. superspecialisations from the April call)
I am not familiar with the term Super specialization but I would see career coaches having niche
areas of expertise to add to their coaching skills; e.g. linked in specialist, psychometric specialist.
The majority of career coaches are poor sales people and find it hard to be treated seriously by
corporate business. They tend to price too low and discount themselves too much.
I have seen some coaches who are willing to open new accounts on behalf of the coaching
provider as a way of getting new associate coaching business
Added question for the meeting:
What makes ICCI membership valuable to you and your colleagues in your country?
Unfortunately as a member of ICCI, it is not recognised much here in Ireland. The major
coaching bodies here are ICF, Association for Coaching and EMCC. These lead the way in
coaching certification.