Ireland has seen the highest level of net outward migration since 1989, data released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has shown.
While emigration from Ireland in the 12 months to last April remained steady, the number of immigrants into Ireland fell sharply over the same period.
Some 65,300 people emigrated in the year to April, while the number of immigrants into Ireland declined from 57,300 to 30,800 over the same time period.
These combined changes have resulted in an increase in net outward migration from 7,800 in April 2009 to 34,500 this year.
At 42 per cent, Irish nationals were the largest group to emigrate. The number of Irish people leaving increased significantly from 18,400 in April 2009 to 27,700 this year.
Over the same period, emigration of non-Irish nationals fell from 46,800 to 37,600.
The CSO said there were 2.15 million people in the labour force, down 50,000 in the year because of changes in the number of people of working age and migration.
The estimated number of non-Irish nationals in the labour force also dropped to 276,500, a decrease of 48,900.