60% of emigrants quit their jobs to go abroad

More than half the country’s emigrants are quitting jobs to move abroad, but say they are forced to leave because they do not have a future here.

A major report to be published today shows that, contrary to the view that unemployment is the main driver of emigration, 47% of those who left in the past five years were in full-time employment and a further 13% had part-time jobs.

Report co-author Piaras MacÉinrí said the finding revealed a worrying pessimism about the country’s economic recovery.