New WDC report highlights emigration of young females from the West

The Western Development Commission’s second WDC Policy Briefing How is the Western Region doing? Measuring regional development provides a statistical snapshot of the Western Region of Ireland.  The Briefing illustrates how the region is developing over time and how it compares with other parts of the country.

A range of indicators of the region’s current level of development and its future growth potential are examined.  The indicators compare the situation in 2007, the peak of the boom, with the most recent available figures and also compare the region with the rest of the state.

Some of the key indicators include data regarding the emigration of young females from the west in larger numbers than their male counterparts.

The trend has echoes of the early 20th century emigration pattern to the US and England.

The study has also found the regional gap in education attainment levels has narrowed considerably, with 15- to 64-year-olds in the west having similar such levels compared to the rest of the State.

The region continues to differ in critical areas such as income levels, higher levels of poverty and labour force participation, it notes. The west and Border regions have the second and third highest consistent poverty rates in the country. Consistent poverty in the west rose from being well below the national average in 2007 to now being above the average, the study says.

The statistics show rising unemployment since 2007 has been quite concentrated in the construction, agriculture and industry sectors in the west.

However, employment grew in some sectors, notably information and communications services, with 3,400 more people working in the sector in 2010 than 2007.

The region is well below the EU average for accessibility, and broadband services are a continuing constraint for individuals and enterprises.

Tourism and hospitality in the Western Region employs one in five of all those working in the sector in Ireland.

You can download the full report here

Listen to WDC Policy Analyst on Morning Ireland discussing the report here