For the first time in a century, we are facing into a major recession without the safety valve of emigration. What are the implications for employment sectors such as healthcare and food production if inward migration stutters? In the past, emigration meant “there was almost like an upper limit on how high unemployment in Ireland would go. If unemployment were to go up in Ireland relative to the UK, Irish people would always spill over into the UK,” says Barrett. “People can become radicalised in tough economic times, but they can also become very cautious in tough economic times.

Source: The Irish Times May 02, 2020 03:56 UTC