How Irish jobseekers fell out of love with the UK

Brexit and demographics have forever altered the flow of workers across the Irish Sea

Despite steady income rises, housing remains a key issue for young Irish workers, with those emigrating doing so in the hope of cheaper accommodation, a challenge understood to be just as difficult in large UK cities such as London and Edinburgh.

The UK’s post-Brexit landscape has had a dramatic impact on migration trends. Growing anti-immigration sentiment and a desire by Europeans to remain in EU countries has led to a stark shift in Britain’s immigration dynamics, one that Ireland is no longer a large part of.

Once crossing the sea in their millions to escape famine and economic hardship, the Irish have arrived in waves to the UK since the 19th century, returning through the Great Depression in the 1930s, the cultural and social revolution of the 1960s, the Thatcher era of the 1980s and the fallout from the global financial crisis in the 2010s.

From unskilled labourers to tradesmen and nurses to more recently white-collar workers, Irish immigrants to the UK have appeared in droves across all areas of the country’s workforce.

However, new data from the world's largest job postings website Indeed has shown that while EU countries like Ireland used to dominate foreign jobseeker interest in the UK before Brexit, Anglophone and former Commonwealth countries now feature more predominately, largely replacing EU workers.

Once the second-highest source of foreign jobseekers, Irish workers have dropped out of the list of top 10 nationalities expressing interest in UK jobs, according to Indeed data focusing on interest in vacancies from around the world.

UCC's Piaras Mac Éinrí: 'The Irish emigrant nowadays is very different from the emigrants of the past.' Picture: John Sheehan

“When you look at the historical trends of Irish emigration, they varied a lot,” says Piaras MacEinrí, Lecturer in Migration Studies and Geography at University College Cork.

“In the 19th century, the majority of Irish emigrants travelled to North America, mostly the US. Then England and Scotland became the primary choice for the 20th century — about 80% of Irish emigrants were going up until we joined the EEC with the UK.” 

The fall in Irish interest is part of a wider shift in the make-up of international workers seeking opportunities in the UK. In 2016, the USA topped the list, followed by Ireland, France, Spain and Italy. Eight years later, that list has changed dramatically, with little overlap. In 2024, India is now the top source of foreign jobseekers in the UK, followed by the US, Pakistan, Nigeria and Australia.

“The British economy is not doing very well, and there is a general perception that the cost of living is quite high,” Mr MacEinrí tells the Irish Examiner.

Indeed data corresponds with findings from the UK’s most recent census, which has also pointed to a sizeable decrease in Irish people living and working in the country. According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), Ireland retained its position in the top 10 between 2011 and 2021 but was the country with the greatest decrease in people living in the country.

The number of people born in Ireland living in England and Wales in 2021 was 325,000, reflecting a fall of 80,000 or around 20% in the same period 10 years ago when they totalled more than 407,000, the ONS said.

While they were once the biggest group of those born outside the UK, Irish people are now fifth behind India, Poland, Pakistan and Romania. The reasoning behind the dramatic shift is multifaceted and dependent on a wealth of social and economic factors across both Ireland and the UK.

Mr MacEinrí says:

It is still the single most popular destination for Irish emigrants but there are just so many options now. The UK is just one of a range of choices.

“Take the Irish teacher trying to save money for a mortgage for example. While they once would have had their sights set on the UK, they are now going to the Gulf.” 

“The Irish emigrant nowadays is very different from the emigrants of the past. They are much more likely to have a third-level education or some kind of qualification, meaning they can walk into jobs.” 

The Irish labour market is currently hovering around full employment, with the number of jobs continuing to grow despite recent contractions in the tech sector and staff shortages. Most recent data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows just 111,000 people were out of work in Ireland in May, equating to an unemployment rate of 4%. 

Strong growth in real wages among Irish workers is also largely projected throughout 2024.

“Ireland’s rate of employment is higher than they have ever been. Another key factor is people do not have to emigrate anymore,” says Mr MacEinrí.

Despite steady income rises, housing remains a key issue for young Irish workers, with those emigrating doing so in the hope of cheaper accommodation, a challenge understood to be just as difficult in large UK cities such as London and Edinburgh.

In addition, Britain’s exit from the EU has led to immigration being one of the key issues for UK voters, with early polls showing Nigel Farage’s Reform Party climbing in popularity, overtaking the Tories for the first time last month.

“Britain is in an inward-looking frame of mind at the moment,” says Mr MacEinrí.

The interest expressed by foreign nationals in UK-based jobs, according to recruitment website Indeed.

“British growth rates have fallen since Brexit. The Tories are still not admitting that but Brexit has not been a success from the point of view of economic growth and jobs.” 

The UK’s anti-immigration panic has also coincided with renewed interest among Irish people to move further afield, with immigration to Australia, the EU and Canada all reporting steady rises since 2021, according to the CSO.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Richard Owens, Board Member of the London Irish Business Society (LIBS) which helps young Irish professionals in the capital, said that while their membership has seen strong interest amongst Irish people in the UK, recent months have seen a surge in issues among their membership.

“It is noted they have expressed concerns over the recent increases in the cost of living, the challenges in finding affordable places to rent and a tricky job market,” Mr Owen said, adding that the LIBS is currently seeking to address those concerns.

Hence, while Irish emigration remains high, those leaving the country have reconsidered where to go, and for many the UK is simply not the answer anymore.