People living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas hold more negative attitudes towards immigration, particularly in communities that have seen increases in migrant populations since 2011, new research has revealed.
The Economic and Social Research Institute study examined how community context shapes attitudes to immigration across Ireland, finding that local disadvantage levels play a significant role in shaping public opinion on the issue.
The research, based on a large representative survey conducted in April 2023 and matched with Census 2022 data, challenges assumptions about direct relationships between migrant numbers and negative attitudes. Overall, the share of migrants in communities showed no association with anti-immigration sentiment across Ireland.
However, the picture becomes more complex when socio-economic factors are considered. Communities with higher levels of disadvantage, measured by proportions of lone-parent households, unemployment, low education levels, and semi-skilled or unskilled workers, consistently showed less positive views of immigration.
Rural communities generally displayed more negative attitudes than urban areas, but this pattern changed dramatically in rural areas with high migrant populations, where attitudes closely resembled those in cities. Researchers suggest this reflects the importance of social contact in fostering understanding between communities.
The study also found that residential segregation matters. Areas where migrants live in clusters rather than integrated throughout the community showed more negative attitudes, again pointing to the value of positive social interaction.
Surprisingly, the research found no evidence linking attitudes to pressure on local services such as healthcare, housing, or education. The presence of Ukrainian refugees in communities also showed no correlation with negative attitudes, while areas with asylum seekers actually showed slightly more positive views on immigration overall.
Lead researcher Fran McGinnity emphasized that communities can be both obstacles and opportunities for integration. “This kind of positive social contact between migrants and non-migrants can go a long way to generating positive relations between groups as well as building stronger, more cohesive communities,” she said.
The findings have significant implications for integration policies, suggesting that addressing broader socio-economic disadvantage may be as important as direct immigration measures in fostering social cohesion.