Young Irish Adults Struggle as Emigration Surges to 12.7%
“It feels like my life has started, whereas I think in Ireland I would still be waiting for my life to start,” says Fern Kelly (25), who moved to Utrecht in August 2023.
A recent study from the Central Statistics Office found that over one in eight (12.7%) 25-year-olds in Ireland have emigrated. The CSO report, based on the Growing Up in Ireland study of people born in 1998, highlights significant concerns faced by this generation.
Housing Crisis Dominates Concerns
Housing emerged as the top concern, with nearly 98% of survey respondents expressing very or somewhat significant worry about future accommodations.
Financial Struggles Drive Emigration
For Fern Kelly, the decision to leave was due to the prohibitive cost of master’s tuition in Ireland. “It’s terrible that the reason I had to leave was because I literally couldn’t study there – it was financially impossible,” she stated.
Kelly has since graduated from Utrecht University and now plans to make the city her home. “In the Netherlands, I’ve stopped smoking, drinking, and vaping, and I cycle to work every day,” she added, noting a significant improvement in her health and mental well-being.
Mental Health and Independence
Kelly attributes her improved mental health to the sense of independence and autonomy gained from living away from her family home. “In Ireland, I would be looking to move out for the first time, whereas now at 25, I have almost two years of living outside. It feels like my life has started.”
Youth Advocates Call for Change
Responding to the CSO findings, Kathryn Walsh, policy and advocacy director of the National Youth Council of Ireland, expressed concerns. “These figures are truly shocking, and unfortunately, they are becoming desensitized. There is a need for intergenerational solidarity and equity. Young people are often pushed aside, and we hope the new government program will bring some relief.”
Another 25-year-old, Cormac Nugent, plans to emigrate. “The main reason is that I rely on family accommodation to even consider saving money,” he said. Nugent believes living abroad will force him to become more independent and leave him with extra money to rent comfortably.
Despite his plans, Nugent is “not optimistic but hopeful” about the future. “To own a home before I’m 40, I’d have to sacrifice my young adulthood to save more each week. I’m not sure if I could live happily in a bungalow that would cost too much money and too many memories.”
Living with Family and Career Opportunities
Jonathan Stanley, from Bray, also lives with his gran. He aspires to a career in wildlife conservation or music but feels these opportunities are limited in a smaller country like Ireland.
Stanley is considering emigration to pursue his career ambitions. “If I wanted to pursue a career I liked, owning a house doesn’t seem feasible,” he explained.
Climate change adds to the challenges. “It feels weird to think ahead 10 or 15 years because we don’t really know how things will have changed, so that does weigh on my mind.”
Megan van der Riet’s Perspective
Megan van der Riet moved from South Africa to Ireland in September 2023 to study at UCD. She decided to stay and started a graduate job in Dublin.
Like many, housing was the most stressful part for van der Riet. “I thought housing in Cape Town was difficult to get, which I mean it is, but then I got here and I was like, ‘Oh flip, okay,’” she shared.