Over half of millennials would move to another part of Ireland as remote work becomes more popular.
That’s according to Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council Lar Power after the Council conducted a survey on 1,000 people.
The survey found that 61% of millennials have considered moving to another part of Ireland thanks to growth of remote and hybrid working. Some 22% of people surveyed now work fully remotely.
Mr Power told Breakfast Briefing that “COVID transformed the work landscape”.
“It propelled us forward a couple decades in the concept of remote working,” he said. “People adapted to working remotely and now it's very much part of the future of work.”
He said many are looking for a cheaper cost of living now they are not tied to a specific location.
“People are looking for a quality of live and reduced cost of living, and remote work provides that opportunity,” he said.
“Remote working provides the perfect opportunity to escape the city and work in a calmer setting without the hassle and the hustle of city commutes and congestion.”
Housing available
Mr Power said Government proposals such as the Vacant Homes Action Plan that allows local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict properties will incentivise younger people to move to more remote parts of Ireland.
He said there are several vacant properties in Leitrim, but there was previously no incentive to acquire or refurbish these sites until recently.
Remote working
Rural counties such as Leitrim have seen population growth in recent years – according to the CSO, Leitrim had a 10% population increase in the last census.
President of the Carrick-on-Shannon Chamber of Commerce Colm McGrath said, “It is our view that this trend will increase into 2023 and beyond, as millennials opt to raise families in areas where they can afford housing”
The benefits of remote work will continue to impact people’s choices, according to Mr Power.
The survey by Leitrim Country Council found 56% of people thought remote working conditions delivered a positive impact.
Some 83% reported a positive impact on their standard of living, while 75% reported a reduction in spending.
