The given diagram depicts the rate of unemployment in Ireland together with the number of emigrants in the period of 20 years from 1988 to 2008.
Overall, both the Irish unemployment rate and emigrant number experienced great fluctuations and shared the same pattern of peaking in around the first period of the time frame. In later years, both figures witnessed profound downfall then climbed back up.
Regarding the Irish rate of unemployment, the figure peaked in 1988 at 16% and decreased for 3% by 1990 at 13%. Then, this rate went up considerably, standing at around 16% in 1992, similar to that of 1998. Ever since until the year of 2000, there was a significant decline in the rate of unemployment in Ireland for estimately 12%, from 16% to 4%. Before a great development of 5% between 2006 and 2008, the figure remained stable at below 6% for 6 years straight.
In terms of the number of emigrants, the figure started at 40,000 in 1988 prior to meeting its peak at 70,000 in 1990. Just one year later, this number had a noticeable drop of about 35,000 people leaving, which was twice less than that of 1990. From 1991 to 2005, the figure witnessed a consistent development fluctuating at below 40,000 before climbing back to 45,000 at the end of the period.