Generation emigration is very real.
More than one-in-six Irish people over the age of 15 now live overseas, a new OECD study has found.
At 17.5%, Ireland has the highest proportion of adults living abroad out of all OECD countries.
Ireland, whose labour market suffered greatly in the midst of crippling economic circumstances, has said goodbye to many of its best and brightest since 2008, as young people have been forced to take up residence in the UK, US, Canada and Australia in order to find a job that fits their qualifications.
The report specifies that high unemployment and poor salaries are key reasons in Ireland’s high level of displacement, but also said that returning emigrants would play a crucial role in Ireland’s economic recovery.
Whether they can be convinced to return is another issue entirely.
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