Migrant residents are more likely to be employed, active in the labour market, and well-educated compared to the Irish-born population, according to the latest findings from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
The foreign-born residents, however, have lower incomes and are more likely to be affected by high housing costs.
The report, which sheds light on how migrants in Ireland are faring, compares outcomes for Irish and foreign-born residents in the areas of employment, social inclusion, education, and active citizenship.
As per the Monitoring Report on Integration 2024, 37 per cent of migrants spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, compared to 9 per cent of Irish-born residents. The report also highlighted that migrants face higher levels of poverty and deprivation than Irish-born residents, with those born in eastern EU states and outside the EU being primarily affected.
Of those born outside the EU, 20 per cent are considered ‘at risk of poverty’, in comparison to 11 per cent of Irish-born residents, the research pointed out.
It further said those born in the UK, eastern EU, and outside the EU are more likely to experience material deprivation than the Irish-born population.
On the labour market front, outcomes vary according to place of birth. The report stated that migrants born in the EU, Asia and Rest of World had broadly better labour market outcomes than Irish-born residents. However, those born in Europe but not in the EU had poorer labour market outcomes.
Notably, African employment rates have increased while unemployment rates have fallen, with both figures now similar to those of Irish-born residents.
Migrants have higher levels of educational attainment than Irish-born overall, the ESRI research highlighted. 59 per cent of working-age foreign-born residents had tertiary education across 2021 to 2023, compared to 42 per cent of Irish-born residents.
The ESRI research also reported an increase in the political participation of immigrants, with the number of immigrants both running and winning a seat doubling in the 2024 local elections.