Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2026

The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) is pleased to publish Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2026 report. The high-level details from the Challenge report were presented on the 13th of July to the Competitiveness Summit of Minsters.

As in previous years, this years Competitiveness Challenge report for 2026 is grounded in the Council's Competitiveness and Productivity Framework and focuses on the key factors shaping Ireland's long-term economic performance. The six areas examined reflect both recent economic developments and the interconnected challenges facing Ireland's competitiveness, productivity, and resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment. These include economic resilience and energy security, the cost of doing business, public sector reform, labour market developments and AI, and the strategic opportunities presented by Ireland's EU Presidency. The report highlights the need for targeted action to address rising business costs, invest in competitiveness-enhancing reforms, tackle infrastructure deficits, strengthen economic resilience, and prepare the workforce of the future through continuous learning and skills development.

Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2026 report makes 19 targeted and actionable recommendations to Government aimed at strengthening Ireland's competitiveness, productivity, and economic resilience while positioning the economy to capitalise on future opportunities and navigate emerging challenges.

These strategic challenges are: 

• Strengthening economic resilience in response to increasing global uncertainty and structural change.
• Enhancing energy security as a foundation for sustainable competitiveness and growth.
• Addressing the high cost of doing business and improving the operating environment for firms.
• Delivering public sector reform to improve efficiency, responsiveness, and service delivery.
• Preparing the labour market for future challenges and opportunities, including the impact of artificial intelligence and technological change.
• Leveraging Ireland's EU Presidency as an opportunity to influence European competitiveness, resilience, and economic policy priorities.

The full report and the press release can be accessed below.