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Some 84% of respondents said that the housing crisis disproportionately affects them, up from 82% last year. Alamy Stock Photo
Red C Poll
Three in every five adults under 25 are thinking about emigrating
81% of young people said they were fearful for their future, according to research conducted for the National Youth Council of Ireland.
THREE IN EVERY five young adults are thinking about emigrating to seek a better life abroad due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
A Red C poll conducted on behalf of the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) surveyed 1,004 people between 31 July and 5 August.
The research found that three in five people aged under 25 are considering emigrating, with almost one in three saying that they are strongly considering leaving Ireland. Some 82% of people aged between 18 and 24 feel negatively impacted by rising costs.
Of those surveyed, 81% of young people said they were fearful for their future, with two thirds saying they believe they would enjoy a better quality of life abroad. “These figures reflect a growing sense of disillusionment and urgency,” the NYCI said.
Housing was cited as a major reason for people wanting to leave the country. Some 84% of respondents said that the housing crisis disproportionately affects them, up from 82% last year.
This was most prevalent among full-time students, with 94% of them citing rent and accommodation as a major financial burden.
Beyond housing, under-25s named education fees (60%), the cost of groceries and daily essentials (47%) and healthcare (26%) as the biggest financial challenges they face.
Some 70% of respondents across all age groups agreed that young people are disproportionately affected by rising costs, with 79% stating that the Government is not doing enough to support them.
Only 13% of young people felt that their needs were being adequately addressed, the NYCI said.
“This isn’t just about hardship – it’s about young people feeling like Ireland is no longer a place where they can build a future,” Kathryn Walsh, director of policy and advocacy at NYCI, said.
She said Budget 2026 must be a “turning point”, adding that young people need measures to address their cost-of-living pressures and “restore hope”.
Some of the measures the NYCI is calling for in its pre-Budget submission including equalising Jobseeker’s Allowance for under-25s, abolishing sub-minimum wage rates for young workers and introducing free public transport for under-25s.
The organisation also wants to see dedicated funding ringfenced for a Youth Homelessness Strategy from January 2026, funding for youth mental health services through the HSE Action Plan and the permanent reduction of third-level fees.
Walsh said the Government must recognise that income adequacy and cost-of-living supports “are essential, especially for those furthest from opportunity”.
“If we fail to act now, we risk losing a generation of talent and resilience to emigration and exclusion. Budget 2026 must be a commitment to their future.”
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