An analysis of job applications for the only multinational company to set up in the north-west this year has found that the high level of unemployment in Donegal has forced many people to work in posts for which they are over-qualified.
A case study of those who applied for jobs at PacifiCare in Letterkenny also found there is no shortage of people at middle and senior management levels who are keen to move from larger cities.
A Californian-based healthcare company, PacifiCare said in February it was to locate an insurance claims processing centre in Letterkenny, mainly because it was having difficulties recruiting suitable staff in the US.
It is a reflection of the employment situation in Donegal that in just five days 336 people applied for 50 posts as claims processors. The wages are roughly equivalent to factory rates.
Mr Niall Murray, regional manager with Collins McNicholas, which oversaw the recruitment for PacifiCare, said the response rate for all the jobs was "overwhelming".
He said one of the main concerns companies had when considering locating in a region was whether there would be an adequate supply of skilled staff.
"We now have the empirical evidence to show to other companies that the people are available. These people are out there, but they are not in the area simply because there are no opportunities for them. They had to leave to progress their career but many want to come back," he said.
Of the 186 applicants for six senior/middle management jobs, 34 per cent were from Dublin, 21 per cent from Donegal, 26 per cent from other parts of the Republic, 10 per cent from Northern Ireland and 9 per cent from Britain.
All six of those appointed were originally from the north west region, with four working in Dublin, one in Northern Ireland, and one in the UK.
Of the 50 claims processors appointed, 96 per cent were living in Donegal, 2 per cent in London and 2 per cent in Glasgow.
It was also found that a lot of those who applied for jobs as claims processors were overqualified for their previous employment. Many of them were working in the retail or hotel and catering sectors despite having completed FAS or third-level courses in office administration or computing.
Mr Murray said 22 per cent of the young people who applied to PacifiCare who were working in shops or restaurants had non-related third level qualifications. "If they wanted to stay around home, they didn't have an option previously. In Dublin, people with these administration skills have all been snapped up," he added.