A nationwide survey conducted in Ireland reveals that 1 in 10 people plan to emigrate in the coming year.

If that were to come through, an estimated 200,000 working age Irish people would quit the country, showing emigration levels that have not been since since the 1950s.

In the survey, which was commissioned by lastminute.com and carried out by the market research company, iReach, 9% of all respondents said they planned to move abroad in 2011.

Of those respondents, 35% cited lack of work as the main reason they were planning to leave.

In the 18-24 year old age group, 27% said they would emigrate in within 12 months, but 56% percent of these claim they are doing so for “travel and adventure,” rather than economic necessity.

Of the males, 11% said they’re primary reason for emigrating is “for love,” while only 5% of females claimed this as their reason.

There is a huge discrepancy between how young and old view the future.
Of the 18-24 year olds, 74% are eagerly awaiting the new year, but only 58% of those aged 45-54 are looking forward to 2011.

A random selection of 1,000 people were polled nationally on Thursday, December 9, 2010.