Ireland's loss is now undoubtedly Australia's gain – at least according to the recent figures suggesting the Irish 'brain drain' is positively impacting the largest country in the South Pacific.
While Australia has been the subject of emigration for many decades, primarily to Britain, the trend has seemingly reversed with British and Irish workers fleeing their own financial crises at home for Down Under.
Ireland’s economic crash has seen a mass exodus of its most highly skilled and well-educated citizens.
Researchers John Gibson and David McKenzie of the World Bank set out to track this 'brain drain.'
Their report, according to The Australian, concluded "migrants earned far more than high academic achievers who stayed home".
For many of the Irish, moving away provides an income that they are not even able to find in Ireland in the wake of the Celtic Tiger’s death. Moreover, Australia has welcomed many of the Irish migrants who seek a better economic outlet than can be found at home.
Read more: Thousands of Irish leaving home for a better life in Australia
One point Gibson and McKenzie make as a result of their study, which may give hope to family members and friends of those who have made the big move abroad, is that migration does not necessarily spell out a permanent move. In fact, Gibson and McKenzie found that 30% of highly skilled emigrants returned home after a period of time.
Although Ireland has historically been a nation of emigrants, there is hope that its wild geese will soon flock home again. For now, however, it appears that Australia and other economically viable nations will continue to benefit from the Irish 'brain drain.'
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.aloistmartin | May 06, 2011, 05:04 PM EDT
... Turn to Egypt. Is`nt This were We came In ?
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 08:47 PM EDT
EireinAmerica..Let me tell you something..Georgy is not on the same side as I am..I'm an Irishman..I see the good and the bad in Ireland. But I hate lies and I hate comments that can't be backed up with facts..In this modern age it takes work to find the facts. I read opinion and opinion means sh*t.Opinion is personal and that's ok for a survey.EireinAmerica Georgy boy is grand.Because he's not a Irish history revisionist cu*t like some here.
EireinAmerica | May 04, 2011, 08:01 PM EDT
Sir Peter, George D,...Lads,...such hostility,..'Tis a shame,..we are on the same side, Lads,...
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 04:22 PM EDT
Georgy you're a Yawnfest. Did some foreign person slap you around the head or something at some stage.Every comment you post has something about mass Immigration or foreigners. You must be brain damaged or something.Months and months and months of saying the same old crap.Poles, Paki's and Philippians. It's because of the letter P isn't it Georgy? You don't like the letter P. You have fixations and repetitive behavioral problems with unrealistic thought's, and you don't like any nationality which starts with the letter P.I know you have Schizophrenia Georgy boy. Your comments show all the signs. Stay on your meds,you'll be grand.
GeorgeDillon | May 04, 2011, 03:19 PM EDT
Maginnty is the one who regularly whines about not being able to find a job in Ireland. Yet she's a big booster for Mass Immigration. Get with it, momma, if a Paki has a job in Ireland that's one job you won't have. Is that so complicated? But you're SO facing a lifetime of unemployment. And they're going to lower welfare rates over there too, because Irish people like have got as lazy as slugs. If it was myh call, I'd give you no welfare, so that you would drag your fat ass out of bed in the morning and go get a job.
mamaginnty | May 04, 2011, 03:03 PM EDT
There he blows again, wondered how long GoergieD could last using the word foreigners in Ireland. 3 days, then back to Paki Poles etc.
GeorgeDillon | May 04, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT
The Irish are emigrating to Australia. Meanwhile, Poles, Paki and Pilipinos (and that's just three of 50 or more nationalities) are emigrating to Ireland. Wouldn't it make sense if Ireland stopped being the middle man, kept its own people, and just sent the Poles, Pakis and Pilipinos right on to Australia?
GeorgeDillon | May 04, 2011, 02:11 PM EDT
"You could send a monkey to Australia and they would consider it intellectual." Why don't you go too, sir peter, and see can they tell you apart?
cillowen | May 04, 2011, 11:41 AM EDT
its a blessing - ireland brain drain and the australian needs coincide. perfect harmony. Shure that Australian Rules Football was fashioned from Gaelic Football - brothers in arms destined to serve the commonwealth.
sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 10:22 AM EDT
You could send a monkey to Australia and they would consider it intellectual.