Emigration of educated population leading to ‘brain drain’, study finds

UCC survey shows 62 per cent of emigrants aged 25 to 34 have a third-level qualification 

The Sydney skyline where many Irish emigrants travel to. Sparsely populated rural areas in Ireland have been disproportionately affected, with 25 per cent of households losing a member to emigration

 

 

 Ireland is experiencing a “brain drain”, as the people currently leaving Ireland for a new life abroad are much more likely to have a higher level of education than the general population.

A major survey of current emigration, to be published at an international conference on “austerity emigration” in University College Cork today, reveals that 62 per cent of emigrants aged 25 to 34 have a third-level qualification, compared to 47 per cent of Irish people in that age group overall.

Using data from the 2011 census, researchers from the UCC Émigré project carried out door-to-door surveys of 2,500 households, while data was collected online from 1,500 Irish abroad and 500 intending emigrants attending jobs fairs. More than 60 emigrants were interviewed in-depth over Skype.

The final report claims to be “one of the most representative studies ever” of Irish emigration, providing a detailed profile of the age, gender, education, occupation and origin of Irish emigrants for the first time. Some 32 per cent of adults have had an immediate family member emigrate since 2006. Almost 17 per cent of households have seen at least one member emigrate in the period.

Sparsely populated rural areas have been disproportionately affected, with 25 per cent of households losing a member to emigration. In commuter belt areas, where residents are more likely have negative equity mortgages and young children, less than 11 per cent of households have experienced emigration.Almost half of all emigrants left full-time jobs behind, while one in eight worked part-time. 

Source: Irishtime.com