No slowdown in level of net immigration.

[freedomlover]

The CSO have just published quarterly employment and population figures. These are contained in the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). The latest one is for Q1 2008. Because its primarily an employment survey, the population figures relate to the population aged 15+ only. Full population figures will be published later in the year. The latest QNHS demolishes a few myths:

(1) The level of net immigration is continuing at the same high rate as for the past few years (at least up to February last - there will be no info on post-Feb 2008 until the next CSO quarterly survey) . In Feb 2008 the number of foreign nationals age 15+ in Ireland was 491,500. That's an increase of 67,000 on Feb 2007 and an increase of 23,400 on Nov 2007. So, all those media stories towards the end of 2007 and early 2008 about the Poles going home were false. The number of foreign nationals in Ireland was increasing by around 6,000 per month right throughout 2007 and into Q1 2008.

note: when I have posted figures showing a high level of net immigration in the past, my comments have been misconstrued by some posters on both sides of the immigration debate - so, let me make it clear I'm in favour of immigration and I welcome these figures as further proof of Ireland's successful economy.

(2) The number of persons in employment in Ireland in Feb 2008 was 53,800 higher than in Feb 2007 and 6,200 higher than in Nov 207. That's an increase of 2.6% in a year and an increase of 0.3% in a quarter. So, although the rate of increase has clearly slowed, and will stay lower than before until the global economy picks up again (probably in late 2009), Ireland is continuing to generate jobs faster than in virtually any other developed economy. For example, the number in employment in the U. States fell in 2007. Even the quarterly increase of 6,200 is much higher than most Irish economists have been predicting. ESRI recently forecast zero growth in employment in Ireland in 2008 and on P.ie Kerrynorth forecast that the number in employment in Ireland would fall by 40,000 in 2008. All one can say at this stage is that these forecasts have got off to a bad start.

(3) Because of the faster growth in employment, the unemployment rate for January 2008 has been revised down from 5.0% to 4.8%. This always happens. The initial figures for unemployment published in the Live Register always over-state it and have to be revised down once the more reliable Quarterly National Household Survey is published. The most recent Live Register figure was 5.5% for April. This will probably now have to be revised down to 5.3%, and will also probably have to be revised down further when the Quarterly National Household Survey for Q2 2007 is published in September.

http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/ ... t/qnhs.pdf

[Centurian]

Shure why would they stop coming - We're such a soft touch here in Ireland.

[Twin Towers]

Immigration begets more and more immigration.

[Keith-M]

Excellent to see that some people have faith in our economic prospects, after all the prophets of doom on this site and elsewhere.

[HanleyS]

If this true then it's quite funny. I don't know where they're all working.

[Centurian]

If this true then it's quite funny. I don't know where they're all working.

A lot of them will have no intention of working.......

[madura]

From observation there seems to be no slow-down in the number of new shops being opened to supply immigrant communities with goods from their homelands.

[imported_Déise]

.

[spalpeen]

is this the same CSO that takes rental data from real estate agents as gospel?

[PaintingMedium]

Whats the definition of a foreign national?
The biggest movement of people into Ireland has been from England I think. Are people born in England to Irish parents considered foreign nationals? Also how are people from the North considered?

People in the North can have Irish or British citizenship or both, so it depends on the person. If the people in England born to Irish parents have Irish passports, they would not be considered foreign nationals. If they have british passports, they would be considered foreign nationals.