Emigration - more lifestyle than livelihood

Sonnenblumen

Notwithstanding the constant media attention to Irish emigration, it is surprising to discover that new research indicates approx 59% of those leaving are leaving the the country by personal choice and not by compulsion. Many of those emigrating are planning to return home at a later date, which together with the 2-year ''brain drain' to Australia which is nothing more than a coming of age extended holiday for many graduates. This is much different and starkly contrasting to what the media would lead us to believe?

The Irish media really needs to get its act together in more balanced in its reporting. Also given today being our National Holiday, we could gain from some introspection to discover why we 'Irish' are so pre-occupied and vulnerable to being so self critical and negative.

Mr. Loverman

I emigrated as a lifestyle choice.

I wanted to experience a different culture, learn a new language, and create some good memories.

I have no interest in living someone else's life, i.e. degree by 21, marriage by 28, house by 32, first kid by 33, second by 35 ... and finally, regretting not living my life at 81 as I reflect on what could have been.

But that's just me, I know emigration isn't for everyone.

Well there does appear to be an upturn in the number of jobs currently being advertised, so for graduates I would agree that it is a lifestyle choice for some.

But, it is important to remember that for a significant section of the population, there are no jobs for them at all, particularly those in the construction sector and their skills are in demand in the mining & oil drilling sectors in Canada and Australia.

Mr. Loverman

Deleted User wrote: »

their skills are in demand in the mining & oil drilling sectors in Canada and Australia.

I hope those who can go do go, because they will have a great time.

El Horseboxo

11 mates of mine have emigrated over the last few years. Only 2 of them were lifestyle choices and they were both to Holland. For the other 9 it was all to to do with work. Most were tradesmen of some kind. We all still keep in contact and not one of the 11 have plans on coming back so far. 2 more that have families are in the process of moving to Canada after securing jobs and have no plans to return.

There's also something on the radio somewhere almost every day about emigration and to me it seems a hell of a lot more people calling up saying they are moving permanently rather than a lifestyle choice. Anyways it can be both. There could be work in Saudi Arabia but people won't go there because it doesn't suit their lifestyle.

How they accurately put a percentage on that poll is beyond me anyway. Conduct it in bondi beach and I'm sure it's a different result than one conducted in the arsehole of Australia.

The King of Moo

I'd imagine that poll is not entirely accurate.

I'm sure lots of people would like to say they're going to return but then won't, and probably a few people would not admit to having to be forced to leave, maybe for good.

I also wonder if those leaving as a lifestyle choice include those who don't strictly have to leave, but have such a low chance of finding work that they choose to leave, even if there are a tiny number of jobs available to them.

SharpshooterTom

Emigration is often overhyped. The number of permanent migrants to Australia is around 4,000 and Canada about 2,000 per year. Not "half the country".

BraziliaNZ

Gnobe wrote: »

Emigration is often overhyped. The number of permanent migrants to Australia is around 4,000 and Canada about 2,000 per year. Not "half the country".

People seem to consider 22 year olds going to Sydney and living in a hostel drinking a box of goon every night for 6 months emigrants too

tweedledee

50,000 Irish people registered for foreign visas last year, they are not all students. Lots of Irish people are living in Europe and they don't appear on the governments stats. Government will use every twist to play down the actual figure. Government hate Ireland getting any form of bad publicity overseas, FG are paranoid about Irelands image abroad.
CSO figures for crime, emigration and unemployment are heavily tweaked in favour of the positive image of the country. All CSO figures are "reviewed" before being released to the public.
Is it a co-incidence that the Times released these "figures" of joy and happiness to the public on Saint Patties day?????? I think not.:eek:

retro child

all my mates are here, all my family are here, i suppose im lucky i can say that , but not one of them would leave ireland for good!! i myself like many lived in oz and canada , i had a good time but none of them could compare to home and i never wanted to live anywhere else only ireland!!

i always say "its not the country thats the problem , its the fools running it" ireland is a great country we need to hear more positive talk , we are not in the gutter or a poor country little some people would have you think, i noticed there is more work out there and everyone i know is working so its not all doom and gloom , we need to be real and not put on the green jersey but at the same time we need to be honest and understand a lot of people in this country are happy and love ireland and wouldnt leave if giving a choice!

Mr. Loverman

retro child wrote: »

all my mates are here, all my family is here, i suppose im lucky i can say that but not one of them would leave ireland for good!! i myself like many lived in oz and canada while i had a good time none could compare to home and i never wanted to live anywhere else only ireland!!

"its not the country thats the problem , its the fools running it"
ireland is a great country we need to hear more positive talk , we are not in the gutter or a poor country little some people would have you think, i noticed there is more work out there and everyone i know is working so chin up and happy paddys day!!!!

Ireland does indeed have a lot of great things going for it... but so do many other countries. They may be different great things but they are still great.

An unemployed single tradesman would be making a smart move if he decided to head to Canada or Australia in search of work and possibly a better life.

But if everything is going well for you here, I can definitely understand why you would want to live here.

beks101

I don't think it's as simple as 'lifestyle' versus 'livelihood' and I don't see how there could be any measurable statistics on it.

Many people are leaving/have left, not because they strictly have to, but because with income levies, taxes, general economic doom and gloom, life abroad probably has more to offer them. Most people I know over here fall into that bracket.

It's also the case that people leave for a year and that turns into two years, three years, five years, a decade. I moved to Canada for a year of supposed adventure and debauchery, soon found myself in a professional job and then the bailout happened so my 'lifestyle choice' turned into a livelihood decision.

If and when I emigrate, it would be just so I can get away from the negative attitude everywhere you go. It's constantly "doom and gloom".

questionmark?

Gnobe wrote: »

Emigration is often overhyped. The number of permanent migrants to Australia is around 4,000 and Canada about 2,000 per year. Not "half the country".

You failed to mention in that post all the people who have moved to the UK. Seven of my close group of friends are living in the UK including myself and I know of at least another 10+ people from my area back home who are living throughout the UK. I have also meet numerous Irish people living here and not one person has said to me that they moved as a lifestyle choice but rather that they had no work and no prospects.

If I could move home in the morning I would. Sure things can be depressing but you know what, I love Ireland and its people and I for one will never forgive the people who have done their best to destroy it aka seanie, bertie and co. I keep my hopes up that in four or five years Ireland Inc. will be back on its feet and I can move home.

pragmatic1

Gnobe wrote: »

Emigration is often overhyped. The number of permanent migrants to Australia is around 4,000 and Canada about 2,000 per year. Not "half the country".

Where I live theres teenagers up to the age of about 18 and then very little people between that age and mid thirties. The place is a ghost town and I dont ever see it recovering.

OneArt

I left because I felt suffocated living in Ireland. Was planning to leave since I was 15. The work I do over here is all freelance Internet stuff so I could live quite comfortably in Dublin as well but things here are just better at the moment. I'm getting my own apartment for next to nothing, can get drink whenever I want and college is free.

Also I don't see myself going back to Ireland but I guess in my head it was just a stopping point. I moved there from South Africa when I was 10 so I always expected we'd leave again.

If were I to settle anywhere, I can see myself going to the UK, probably near London. There's just a bit more to do there and its quite close to France etc.

As much as I love Ireland the idea of living there again just makes me shudder. I love Germany as well, but if I were here for more than ten years I'd go spare.

Robdude

Emigration is fine, so long as it's an option.

When people are emigrating because they see it as the only chance for a decent life, it's an indication of a problem.

Some people are always going to want to go and 'see the world'. That's great. But when emigration rises in conjunction with unemployment or other indicators it's a sign that people are leaving for the wrong reasons.