How people emigrating from Northern Ireland may affect the Northern Ireland economy

Emigration is the movement of people from their own country to live in another country. So therefore an emigrant is someone who exits their own country to go and live in another country.

For hundreds of years people have been emigrating from Northern Ireland and moved to places such as America, Australia, England, Scotland and many other countries. Usually they emigrated for better opportunities, a better way of life, for work or to be closer to family and/or friends.

There are many economic reasons why people leave Northern Ireland. There may be:

limited job opportunities in Northern Ireland, so they leave as there may be better job opportunities abroad or better opportunities to further their career.

higher salaries in another country, so people may leave Northern Ireland to get paid more for the job they are doing.

a better standard of living in another country means people from Northern Ireland may leave and enjoy better housing, education, healthcare and way of life in another country.

better career opportunities - people may leave Northern Ireland as there may be an opportunity for promotion in their career as a result of people working for multinational companies.

relocation of a business - a business may re-locate to another country and so people may have to move and leave Northern Ireland to keep their job.

However, for the Northern Ireland economy, this may have an impact as:

- the emigrants will no longer be spending money in Northern Ireland and so this would mean that there is not the same money for the local economy.

- young skilled professionals leave Northern Ireland for work in others countries and this can leave a skills gap in Northern Ireland and the economy can suffer as businesses do not have people in position, with the skills required, to complete the jobs to a high standard.

QUESTIONS YOU COULD BE ASKED:

Write down one word to describe people from Northern Ireland who go to another country to work. (1mark)

Emigration

You should also read:

The impact of globalisation on Northern Ireland

Skills shortages in the workplace in Northern Ireland