Study shows that 60 per cent of Irish emigrants are highly skilled

A year-long study into the ongoing Irish Diaspora has revealed that over 60 per cent of emigrants have degree qualifications and were employed in skilled professions.

The study, undertaken by UCC’s Social Science Institute and the Department of Geography, confirmed fears that emigration from Ireland over the last year was four times higher than seven years ago. Even more worryingly, the majority of those leaving had been in professional or highly skilled employment requiring tertiary qualifications.

Data was collected from 15000 emigrants as well as from 2,400 door-to-door interviews, making the survey the most in-depth ever undertaken in the country. Worst affected were the rural areas of Ireland, with 25 per cent of households losing a family member to emigration in the last seven years.

Authors of the report believe that Ireland’s modern-day Diaspora is now at a higher level than in other bailout countries such as Greece and Spain, both of which are experiencing similar or worse levels of austerity. Almost 50 per cent of emigrants left full-time jobs, with less than 25 per cent in the ranks of the unemployed.

Irish politicians are expressing concerns about the ‘brain drain’ effect of losing qualified professionals at an ever increasing rate, with the Finance Minister Brian Hayes insisting that the present low tax rates must not be increased as it would lead to even more losses of skilled workers to other countries. Labour, he said, is mobile, and incentives must be created to encourage skilled professionals to stay.