Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has welcomed members of the Northern Ireland Skills Council to its first full meeting following a review of the council.

The relaunched council will operate under a renewed model, providing strategic advice on workforce and skills challenges facing Northern Ireland. It will initially focus on three priority themes: digital skills and artificial intelligence, green skills, and future skills and advanced manufacturing.

The council will also strengthen collaboration with Ireland's National Skills Council on shared skills and labour market challenges.

Speaking after the meeting, the minister said skills are central to building a more productive, regionally balanced, and sustainable economy, creating good jobs and ensuring people have the skills to take up new opportunities.

The minister said the relaunched council will provide valuable expertise and advice as the economy responds to changing skills needs, particularly in digital and AI, green skills, and advanced manufacturing. The minister welcomed the growing relationship with Ireland's National Skills Council.

Kathleen O'Hare, chair of the council, said the relaunch provides an opportunity to strengthen the connection between skills policy, employer needs, and economic development. Council members bring expertise from business, education, and industry, and are committed to using that experience to provide practical, evidence-based advice on workforce challenges.

O'Hare said she was particularly pleased that the council will take a thematic approach, focusing initially on the three identified areas, which she described as areas of significant opportunity for the economy where effective collaboration between government, employers, and education providers will be essential.

The Northern Ireland Skills Council is an independent advisory body on skills policy, bringing together expertise from business, employees, education, government, and the third sector.