A new report has found that Ireland is experiencing a brain drain because of emigration.
The study, carried out by UCC, found Ireland has significantly higher levels of emigration than other western European countries hit by the Eurozone crisis.
This UCC study found that almost two thirds of emigrants have a third level qualification. Whereas only half of Irish people aged between 25 and 34 in general are graduates.
And rural Ireland has been hit hardest – one in four homes have been effected.
Perhaps surprisingly, almost half of emigrants had full time jobs in Ireland before leaving – a quarter were unemployed.
Most emigrants leave Ireland for the UK and Australia – but Canada is becoming an increasingly important destination.
When it comes to staying in touch with home, the vast majority use social media and Skype.
