Twenty-five new apprenticeships are being launched today, in new areas such as financial services, the travel industry and cheffing.
Currently, there are only 27 categories of apprenticeship available in five sectors: construction, electrical work, engineering, motor mechanics and printing, under the State training and education scheme.
The new roles will be in areas like engineering, tourism and management with qualifications for the training ranging from a level five (certificates) to level nine (equivalent to a Masters degree).
Minister for Skills Damien English is launching the new apprenticeships this morning.
"An example would be in the area of catering - there's two different types of commis chef and sous chef we'll be offering as apprenticeships," he said.
"There's an accounting technician, a higher apprenticeship I accountancy … there'll be engineering and the IT sector."
He said 25 new apprenticeships would be rolled out in the next 12 months, with more to follow. He said drivers for heavy goods vehicles were severely needed, as well as expansion in IT, and both would be looked at in the coming months.