This report from the ESRI examines integration outcomes for migrants in Ireland. It finds that while employment rates for non-Irish nationals are now on par with Irish nationals, certain groups like African migrants have much lower rates. Education levels are higher overall among migrants aged 25-34 compared to Irish nationals. However, risks of poverty and deprivation remain elevated for non-EU migrants. Naturalization rates have declined in recent years while the Muslim population in Ireland has grown significantly but faces higher unemployment and lower home ownership. The report identifies key data and policy challenges to further promote integration.

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@ESRIDublin #ESRIevents #ESRIpublications www.esri.ie
Monitoring Report on
Integration 2018
ESRI, Whitaker Square,
Sir John Rogerson’s Quay,
Dublin 2
Authors: Frances McGinnity,
Éamonn Fahey, Emma Quinn,
Samantha Arnold, Bertrand
Maître and Philip O’Connell

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Integration Monitor:
Aims & Scope
• Focus on integration outcomes, though policy included,
e.g. the Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020
• Based on EU Indicators proposed at EU Ministerial Conf.
• Employment, education, inclusion, citizenship; special
theme on ‘Muslims in Ireland’
• Uses existing ongoing high-quality national data
 Different data sources/years for different indicators
 Issues of representativeness/coverage of groups
• Focus on both EU/Non-EU nationals, usually compared
to Irish nationals; typically no controls for composition

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Chapter 2 Labour Market Indicators
• Rising employment and falling unemployment for
both groups in labour market recovery
• Employment rates for working age as high for non-
Irish (70%) as Irish nationals (around 66%) in 2017;
but v low among African nationals (circa 45%)
• In 2017 unemployment rate: 7.5% for non-Irish,
7.1% for Irish nationals – gap has narrowed
• Youth unemployment rates similar for Irish and
non-Irish, unemployment rate for over 45s higher
for non-Irish nationals

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Employment Rates, Q1 2017 (LFS)

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Chapter 3 Education Indicators (Adults)
• Comparing the entire population, non-Irish
nationals are more likely to have third level
qualifications than Irish nationals, though
• More similar proportion of younger Irish/non-
Irish adults (25-34) with 3rd level qualifications
(circa 51% v 56% non-Irish)
• Difference between non-Irish groups evident in
education: higher 3rd level rates among West
Europeans (EU-West) and Non-EU (a diverse
group)

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Educational Outcomes: Share of 25-34
age group with third level education
51%
56%
52%
81%
40%
73%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Irish Non-Irish UK EU-West EU-East Non-EU
Source: Pooled LFS Q1 2016 and Q1 2017 pooled

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Education Indicators (Age 15)
• Uses PISA tests 2015 at age 15
• Distinguish student/parents’ place of birth and
language(s) spoken at home
• Mean reading scores lower among migrants from
non-English language backgrounds; no difference
between migrants from English language
backgrounds and Irish peers
• No significant difference between either migrant
group and Irish peers in mathematics or science.

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Chapter 4
Social Inclusion Indicators (2016)
• ‘At risk of poverty’ rates higher for non-Irish (23%)
compared to Irish (just under 16%), esp high
among non-EU
• Deprivation (lacking 2 or more basic items like
food, clothes, heating) also higher among non-Irish
(24%) than Irish nationals (around 21%)
• Consistent poverty not significantly different
between Irish and non-Irish (8-12%), but very high
for non-EU nationals (29%) and very low for EU-
West (3%)

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Social Inclusion Indicators (2016)
• Non-Irish nationals report better health, on
average, than Irish nationals (88% v 82%
report good/v good health)
• Part of the difference is due to differences in
age and education
• Home ownership much lower among non-
Irish (34%) than among Irish (79%)

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Chapter 5 Active Citizenship
• More than 102,735 non-EEA nationals aged 16+ acquired Irish
citizenship through naturalisation between 2005 and 2017
• Years of rapid annual increase followed by decrease in the
number of naturalisation certificates issued
• Top nationalities naturalising in 2017: Polish, Romanian, Indian
• In 2017, 1.2 per cent of migrants aged 16+ holding live
immigration permissions were long-term residents
• Administrative data, no population register
• Migrants are very underrepresented among elected
representatives and voters in Ireland

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Chapter 5: Naturalisation certificates issued and
applications rejected, 2010 - 2017
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Certificates issued to EEA nationals
Certificates issued to non-EEA nationals
Valid applications received
Total rejected applications
Certificates issued on grounds of marriage to Irish national

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Special Theme: Muslims in Ireland
• Profile of
Muslims in
Ireland using
Census data
• Strong growth in
Muslim
population from
a low base in
2002 (20K) to
2016 (circa 62K) 0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
2002 2006 2011 2016
Muslim Population Ireland
• Muslim population is young (avg age 26), compared to whole
population (avg age 37)
• By 2016 30% of Muslims were born in Ireland.
• For others, shift in origin from sub-Saharan Africa to South Asia

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Special Theme: Muslims in Ireland 2
• Muslims on average more highly educated than
non-Muslims
• A high proportion are students (22 per cent
compared to just over 10 per cent of pop 15+)
• However, lower employment and higher
unemployment rates, esp for Muslim women
• Muslims in Ireland more likely to live in urban
areas esp Dublin and 64% of HH’s in private
rented accommodation (compared to 18% of
pop).

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Chapter 7
Data Challenges and Policy Issues
• Changes to immigrant population mean we need to think
carefully who is being counted and how best to do this
• Persistent poor labour market outcomes among African
nationals of concern
• Important to monitor outcomes at primary and secondary
level, effectiveness of English language training, outcomes in
state exams
• High consistent poverty among non-EU nationals also a
concern. Which groups are most at risk?
• Political participation among migrants – how to promote
engagement?
• Engagement of departments and NGOs important in delivery of
migrant integration strategy, also monitoring

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Further reading
Report available for download:
https://www.esri.ie/publications/monitoring-
report-on-integration-2018
Thanks for your attention!