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. 

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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.”