Cutting Irish social benefits for young people will accelerate migration

The recent cut in the Irish jobseekers allowance for unemployed people under the age of 25 is being seen as a disastrous mistake which can only result in more of the country’s youth being lost to migration.

As the present-day Irish Diaspora rumbles on, the announcement in the country’s Budget 2014 that jobseekers’ allowance for under-25’s is to be drastically cut has caused anger amongst those working with the unemployed in this age group. Experts are saying the decision will cause great hardship and result in more emigration.

Estimates suggest that, over the last half-decade, 177,000 young people have moved overseas, with many choosing Canada and Australia. The bulk of the young migrants have been qualified professionals finding it impossible to improve their career prospects at home, according to the National Youth Council of Ireland.

As far back as 2011, research into the effects of unemployment in young people noted the devastation felt by those unable to find jobs. The negative effects on both physical and mental health were referred to as ‘permanent scars rather than temporary blemishes’.

Many young respondents to the survey said they wanted to work and contribute, and would be forced to leave the country within a year if work was not found. Stress, depression, low self-esteem, lack of choice and hopelessness were all, the survey concluded, the result of unemployment amongst the country’s youth.

Migration by the young unemployed may well be seen by the government as a solution to the unemployment problem and the high cost of social welfare, but its likely effect would be to break the social cohesion of the country. Ireland’s ageing population will eventually result in even more social welfare expenditure, and the ration of those in work to those of pensionable age will soar if the majority of today’s youth leave due to lack of viable prospects.