The Gauls at Home in Erin

Young Europeans now travel about the continent, overcoming language and cultural barriers in search of better work opportunities – a major cultural shift. One increasingly common migration trajectory is from France to Ireland. Ireland’s economy and job prospects, especially in fields like finance and computers, beckon young adults from France, who flee the nation’s high taxes and high unemployment rates. Some French citizens intend to gain valuable experience in Ireland and then return; others look to build careers and may never go back. And the French aren’t alone in viewing Ireland as a land for opportunity. Eastern European workers also make the journey, despite more discrimination in the Irish workplace. In Ireland, young adults look forward to the chance to plan their own “success story,” recognizing the need for flexibility, both in culture and career, in a globalized world. – YaleGlobal