The chart illustrates the level of unemployment in Ireland and the proportion of migrants between 1988 and 2008.
Overall, while the unemployment levels remained unchanged over the 10-year period, the number of people leaving the country showed a significant decrease at the end of the period.
In 1988, the number of people leaving Ireland was recorded at 40,000. The number of people who migrated from the country rose dramatically, peaking at approximately 70,000 in 1990. In the following years, it fluctuated between 20,000 and 40,000 before standing at about 41,000 in 2008.
By contrast, the level of unemployment showed a different pattern. The figure started at 17% in 1988. There was a gradual decrease to about 13% in 1990, after which it rose considerably to 17%, the same as the starting year. However, the unemployment rate showed a sharp drop to approximately 6% in 2000 and fluctuated before shooting up to nearly 12% at the end of the period.
