Northern Ireland’s AI boom lifts hardware firms as service jobs face pressure

Northern Ireland’s AI economy is splitting in two. TES, based in a converted aircraft hangar on Lough Foyle and recently acquired by Legrand, is seeing surging demand for electrical systems used in AI data centres. Managing director Michael Beagan said the Ballykelly operation has grown from a team of two to about 175 employees and growing, with an apprenticeship scheme planned alongside North West Regional College.

Other regional manufacturers are also benefiting from AI infrastructure spending. Vertiv is creating 300 jobs in Letterkenny, while Seagate’s hard disc drives are sold out up until 2028, offering stability to its Derry workforce after redundancies in 2024.

The pressure is sharper in professional services and back-office roles. Baker McKenzie’s AI-focused review could affect up to 1,000 support jobs globally and puts about 50 jobs at risk in Belfast. Rapid7 is cutting about 12% of jobs worldwide to shift resources into its AI-first cybersecurity platform, which would equate to about 60 roles locally if applied to Belfast.

Labour market research has suggested that about 7% or 60,000 jobs in NI were at high risk from automation, with a further 58% facing substantial task changes. The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre is working with companies to build practical AI skills, backed by government initiatives including the £16.3 million Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre.