Half of emigrants were employed when they left Ireland

Almost half of emigrants who left Ireland during the crash were in full-time employment when they decided to move abroad, a study has found.

The report, Supporting the Next Generation of the Irish Diaspora, also warns a lack of contact between different generations of Irish emigrants abroad is a cause for concern.

The report, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and carried out by the UCD Clinton Institute, looked at Irish communities across the globe.