YOUNG WOMEN are emigrating from the west in larger numbers than their male counterparts, according to a new study by the Western Development Commission (WDC).
The trend, which has echoes of the early 20th century emigration pattern to the US and England, is one of a number of findings in the WDC policy briefing published today.
The study has also found a regional gap in education attainment levels has narrowed considerably, with 15- to 64-year-olds in the west having similar such levels compared to the rest of the State.
The briefing, entitled “How is the Western Region Doing?”, is the second in a series published today. It aims to highlight and provide discussion and analysis of key regional policy issues.
It has found that a substantial decline in the young female population of the west – 8.3 per cent between April 2009 and April 2010 – meant the total younger population declined by 6.9 per cent. This was notably higher than the State average of 5.6 per cent, and the second highest of all regions in the State, WDC policy analyst Pauline White said.
The west was also unusual in that the decline in the younger female population was greater than in the younger male population, which declined by 5.7 per cent, she noted. “The only other region which had a greater decline in its younger female than male population was the mid-west, but the difference was less significant,” she noted.
The western region’s long standing brain drain was reversed during the boom years, the report notes, especially among women. The briefing noted the region continues to have a slightly greater share of its population with lower education levels – and a smaller share with higher education.
The share with a third-level qualification has grown steadily, it says, and is currently just below the rest of the State.
The situation is not even between genders. Some 35 per cent of 15- to 64-year-old women in the region had a third-level qualification in 2010, compared to 25.5 per cent of men – a bigger gap than in the rest of the State.
It notes the gender difference has shrunk slightly in response to the recession, indicating rising male educational participation.
The region continues to differ in critical areas such as income levels, higher levels of poverty and labour force participation, it notes. The west and Border regions have the second and third highest consistent poverty rates in the country. Consistent poverty in the west rose from being well below the national average in 2007 to now being above the average, the study says.
The statistics show rising unemployment since 2007 has been quite concentrated in the construction, agriculture and industry sectors in the west.
However, employment grew in some sectors, notably information and communications services, with 3,400 more people working in the sector in 2010 than 2007.
The region is well below the EU average for accessibility, and broadband services are a continuing constraint for individuals and enterprises.
Tourism and hospitality employ one in five of all those working in the sector in Ireland.
“Further diversification of the employment base and expansion of the knowledge economy are key to the region’s and country’s economic future,” Ms White said. “Our interpretation is that although knowledge-sector employment is currently lower in the region, there is real potential for expansion.”
Women appear to be faring better than men among those with work, but more males are choosing to stay on or return to education, and this will have positive long-term impacts, she said.
The full report is on website www.wdc.ie/publications/ reports-and-papers/ reports-2010/