Overall, it is evident that the two variables show a parallel trend, except for a significant deviation during the 1990s. While an overall decrease was witnessed for both the factors, the number of individuals leaving Ireland saw a gradual incline toward the end of the period.
To begin with, in the initial year of 1988, 17% of the population faced unemployment while 15.5% chose to leave the country. However, after 1990, the rates declined, with unemployment figures ranging between 12% and 13% until 1996, alongside a decrease in the proportion of people emigrating, reported to be between 14% and 8%.
Moving further, in 1996, there was a significant decrease in unemployment rates in the island nation, reaching a low of 5% in 2000. The percentage of people leaving the country remained relatively steady at 7% until the last four years of the period, followed by a sharp increase to 13% in 2008. On the other hand, the increase in unemployment was more gradual, eventually reaching 6%.