THE IRISH EXECUTIVE ABROAD · their views about working and living in Ireland and abroad, and creates a platform upon which we aim to stimulate a debate about what could be done to

THE IRISH EXECUTIVE ABROADA Report from MERC Partners

Amárach Research

December 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Foreword

The background of the research programme

The methodology

The demographic of the respondents

The suitcase in the hall

Who wants to come home?

Brexit worries

Engaged in Ireland

What would attract them home?

How does Ireland stack up?

Planning the return

Where will they return to?

Who’s coming home?

Overall conclusion

About MERC Partners 14

THE IRISH EXECUTIVE ABROAD | A Report from MERC Partners


FOREWORDAt MERC Partners, we work with Ireland’s most senior leadership teams and Boards to recruit, retain and reward the very best talent at home and from overseas.

For the seventh year, we have commissioned industry experts Amárach Research to conduct a research programme, the findings of which build on the foundations of previous studies.

This year, we take a look beyond our immediate borders to talk to the Irish Diaspora. The Irish have always sought opportunities abroad and the recent recession saw a spike in the numbers leaving to work overseas. With the Irish economy back on its feet and moving towards full employment, we wanted to hear from the C-suite talent pool that exists outside of Ireland and discover their views on living and working abroad, examine how close their ties still are with Ireland and explore what, if anything, would encourage them to return home to work.

What we discovered was a diverse pool of smart, experienced, international executive talent, many of whom would love to return to Ireland. They take a keen interest in all things Irish, check career opportunities regularly, and many would return home if they believed the right career opportunity was here for them.

Our research explored the stumbling blocks on the road back home as respondents see them and considered what could be done to encourage our emigrants to return. The draw of family, friends and the Irish community more broadly remains very strong.

We invite you to share this report with your colleagues and connections. If you are considering a move back to Ireland or wish to discuss how to tap into this pool of expatriate executive talent, MERC Partners would love to hear from you.

Warmest regards,

Ruth Curran

As Ireland’s economy continues to grow, we turn our focus this year to the expectations of the Irish Diaspora for 2019.


THE BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAMMEMERC Partners is Ireland’s leading executive search and leadership consulting firm. Over the past four decades, MERC Partners has placed many key decision-makers in positions of significant influence across all types of organisations in Ireland; within the public and private sectors, indigenous and multinational companies and in new and established organisations. MERC Partners has also appointed many senior executives who have gained international experience before returning to Ireland.

With this in mind, MERC Partners commissioned Amárach Research, an independent Irish market research company, to undertake a study among the Irish executive community overseas. As Ireland’s economy continues to grow, we turn our focus this year to the expectations of the Irish Diaspora for 2019 and beyond. This report provides an insight into their views about working and living in Ireland and abroad, and creates a platform upon which we aim to stimulate a debate about what could be done to ease their return. MERC Partners is interested in facilitating and contributing to the discussion.

Amárach Research, in consultation with MERC Partners, compiled a survey on the Irish Diaspora in 2018.

The survey investigated the appetite of Irish people abroad to return home to live and work, exploring the factors that would draw them back to Ireland and the reasons they remain overseas today. The survey was distributed through the “Irish Times Abroad” website and also to MERC Partners’ own extensive network of ‘overseas Irish’.

The final sample consisted of 526 respondents with a spread of people across the UK, Rest of Europe, America, Australia, Asia, the Middle East and the Rest of the World.

The survey was hosted on Amárach Research’s own server. It was conducted in line with best practice as laid down by ESOMAR (World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research) and AIMRO (The Association of Irish Market Research Organisations). All individual responses are confidential and only aggregated responses were reported.

OUR RESEARCH PROGRAMME FOCUSED ON THESE AREAS:

1. Do you want to return to Ireland?

2. What’s keeping you abroad?

3. Who’s most likely to return and why?

4. How well informed about Ireland are you?

THE METHODOLOGY


5

40%

60%

MEN

60%

40%

YESNOWOMEN

GENDER

18-34

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35-44 45-54 55-65 65+

AGE

PARENTS

Middle East

Rest of World

Asia

Australia

North America

Rest of Europe

UK

REGION


THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE RESPONDENTSThis research comprised 526 respondents from around the world. Here’s the profile of the respondents.

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Most likely sector if they return to Ireland

ProfessionalServices

Healthcare /Life Sciences

Financial Services

Technology / IT

Not for Profit

Education

Retail / Wholesale/ Consumer Goods

Business Services

5 10 15 20%

Most likely role if they return to Ireland

Director /Senior Executive

Senior Manager

C-Suite

Manager /Junior Executive

Retired

Freelance

Other

5

5

10

10

15

15

20

20

25

25

30

30%

35%


YESMAYBE

NO

Do you hope to return to live and work in Ireland?

% likelihood of those hoping to return to live and work in Ireland

THE SUITCASE IN THE HALLIt is often said that the Irish abroad never fully unpack and that they would be ready to return home at the drop of a hat. Certainly, our research suggests this, with 3 out of 4 of those living abroad hoping to have the opportunity to return to Ireland to live and work in the future.

This cohort, however, requires the right set of circumstances to make a return worth their while. It became apparent during the research process that there exists a large pool of talented mid-career and senior executives abroad with strong skillsets that would be of benefit to Ireland. These people will come home if the right opportunities present themselves.

For these emigrants, the draw of the Irish lifestyle, being close to family and the Irish people should not be under estimated.

As you might expect, younger respondents are most optimistic about returning, while older, more settled respondents who have lived abroad for an extensive period are more likely to stay abroad. Geographically, those in Australia consider themselves less likely to return, while those in the Middle East are most likely to return home. There is a relatively even spread across the rest of the world.

Typically, those living in North America and Australia have lived away from Ireland longest, which is to be expected as they have traveled the furthest and, in many cases, did so long before the last recession. These people are most likely to have family of their own and to be settled abroad, possibly beyond the point of likely return. Many have embraced the lifestyle abroad and don’t feel the same level of draw to Ireland as some of the other respondents.

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42%35%

23%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

65+ UK18

-34

REST O

F EUROPE

35-44

NORTH AMER

ICA

MIDDLE EA

ST45-54

AUSTRALIA

REST O

F WORLD

55-65ASIA

CHILDREN

UNDER 18

NO CHILDREN


MERC Partners discovered that of those who are planning to return, at least half are hoping to come back to Ireland over the next three years.

There’s a clear dividing line between the motivations of those who are hoping to come home and those who are choosing not to. For those who want to return, career opportunities abroad motivated many of them to leave in the first place. If they believe that these opportunities were available to them, allowing them to return to their families in Ireland, they would be open to considering a return. Many of those who are not interested in returning left for lifestyle reasons as well as career opportunities.

Of those hoping to return home to Ireland, nearly half of them have sensed an improvement in job opportunities here. Research suggests that younger professionals are more likely to have an awareness of these improvements back home.

It’s clear that if we seek to capitalise on this large pool of well educated and experienced executive talent, we need to actively persuade them to return. Life is good for most of them abroad and it will require the right set of circumstances. The question is are we in Ireland doing enough to recognise what is required and are we prepared to do what is necessary to encourage this important talent pool to return?

Our research shows that improvements in healthcare, housing and a more equitable tax system would be required to tip many of our émigrés’ minds and balance out the loss of earnings, opportunity and lifestyle abroad.

The main reasons respondents moved abroad in the first place

Following a new career opportunity

Lack of work opportunities in Ireland

A different lifestyle / change of pace

Cost of living in Ireland

Following a partners’ career opportunity

Most Mentions Overall Mentions

5 2510 30 4515 35 5020 40 55%

WHO WANTS TO COME HOME?

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The far-reaching impact and the uncertainty of the process to date is underlined by the fact that, one out of five of all Irish living and working abroad believe Brexit will affect them in some way, with younger people living in the UK understandably more worried than those elsewhere. 45% of respondents based in the UK said they were more likely to return to Ireland as a result of Brexit.

Interestingly, there is a contingent of later-career professionals living and settled in the UK who don’t believe that Brexit will impact their decision to return to Ireland in any meaningful way.

One of the interesting findings of this research programme is how, at the C-suite level, the Irish Diaspora takes a strong interest in what’s happening in Ireland. Over half of those likely to return check for potential career opportunities at least once a month, and over 20% at least once a week. As the economy continues to improve, these people are entitled to feel optimistic about the right career opportunity presenting itself for them in Ireland.

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ENGAGED IN IRELANDBREXIT WORRIES


Reduction in personal taxation

Significant investment in healthcare

Enhanced policy focused on increasing house building

Significant investment in infrastructure

Enhanced policy on increasing provision of rental accommodation

Significant investment in schools

Incentives and aid for people returning

Nothing

Other

What is the one thing the Irish Government could implement to encourage you to return to Ireland?

5 2510 3015 3520%


WHAT WOULD ATTRACT THEM HOME?Unsurprisingly, a reduction in personal tax is the primary factor that would encourage many to return to Ireland. Healthcare, housing and infrastructure are also seen as major barriers to the Irish abroad returning to work here at present.

Emigrants realise they will have to pay a price to return to Ireland but are keen to point out that the price must be worth it. Although those living in Nordic countries, for example, are happy to pay higher levels of tax to receive better standard of healthcare and education, they see Ireland as needing an overhaul of taxation and major improvements in healthcare and housing. The gap between their perception of healthcare in Ireland and the service in their current country of residence is one of the most significant findings of the report.

The Irish Diaspora actively follow events back in Ireland and is highly aware about societal concerns back home. These people regularly digest Irish newspapers, websites, TV, radio shows and podcasts and follow the conversation in Ireland very closely.

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The quality of lifestyle and healthcare where they currently live is a major draw for the Irish abroad. And, while we cannot do much about it, the weather overseas remains a considerable attraction. However, our major pull factor is that the Irish abroad love the Irish approach and way of life back home and rate the people as a major positive.

Europe and Australia are rated highest for both lifestyle and schooling. Interestingly, the Irish abroad have a healthy respect for the Irish education system.

HOW DOES IRELAND STACK UP?

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

LifestyleSocial Scene

School System

WeatherThe People

Healthcare

Ireland Current Residence

Which offers the best options for you - Ireland or where you are based now?


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Over half of all respondents who want to return to Ireland say they would likely choose to live in Dublin.

However, if we are to look to draw on this talent pool in the future, we will have to look at the infrastructure in the capital to ensure we can cater for such an increase in population.

As mentioned earlier, we will have to dramatically improve healthcare and housing, along with the tax regime.

WHERE WILL THEY RETURN TO?

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

MALE45-54

REST O

F EUROPE

MIDDLE EA

ST18

-3465+

AUSTRALIA

CHILDREN

UNDER 18

FEMALE

55-65

NORTH AMER

ICA

REST O

F WORLD

35-44 UKASIA

NO CHILDREN

Demographics of those most likely to be back in Ireland within 10 years

56%44%

DUBLINREST OF IRELAND


PLANNING THE RETURNWhen asked whether they would return to Ireland by 2028, 54% of all respondents said they plan to be back in Ireland within 10 years. Again, those who have left most recently are invariably the ones most likely to return as opposed to those more settled in their lives outside of Ireland.

In many respects, this is the ultimate litmus test. It removes most of the immediate barriers and shows that in an ideal world the majority of Irish executives living and working abroad would prefer to be living and working here.

For some, the lifestyle enjoyed abroad is a key reason not to return and, paradoxically, the number one reason to return for others. Lifestyle in Ireland is not composed just of the social scene per se but a mix of social, family, friends and that “X factor” that sums up the attitude of the Irish people as a whole. This is an attribute we must capitalise on to attract talent back. Research suggests, however, that we are not doing enough in the other areas like tax reform and infrastructure to make Ireland viable for them to return.

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Respondents are made up of a healthy mix across all industries and sectors. One in five of those who would choose to come home is currently working in the professional services sector. Nearly half of people returning home would be looking for increasingly senior positions, with 80% having at least a third level degree.

The majority of these people are highly experienced professionals across many industries who would, given the right set of circumstances, return to Ireland.

WHO’S COMING HOME?

Nearly half of people returning home will be looking for more senior positions.

OVERALL CONCLUSIONOur findings assure us that the Irish Diaspora is as connected as ever to Ireland. It is also apparent that a pool of senior professionals of an unprecedented scale is primed to return home. This executive talent pool is equipped with significant international experience which presents an abundance of opportunities for companies in Ireland across all sectors. These overseas executives know they will have to weigh up their current career opportunities and quality of life with what awaits them back home, but a large majority assert that they are willing to consider returning to Ireland and once more be amongst family, friends and the wider Irish community. While this is an exciting prospect for Ireland and the business community at large, we should not take their return for granted. If a tipping point in their return is to be realised, Ireland must engage more purposefully with its Diaspora and the Government must deliver more meaningful policy shifts across taxation, healthcare, housing and infrastructure, ensuring that Ireland is a truly more attractive place to return to live and work.


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MERC Partners is Ireland’s leading executive search and leadership consulting firm. For four decades MERC Partners has specialised in the appointment, assessment and development of senior business leaders for many of the most notable multinational corporations, Irish plcs, privately owned companies, commercial semi-states, public sector bodies and not for profit organisations.

In addition to its executive search / headhunting line of business, MERC Partners’ suite of client services also includes the identification and appointment of non-executive directors, leadership consulting, interim management and advertised selection.

MERC Partners is the Irish member firm of IIC Partners Executive Search Worldwide, one of the Global Top 10 executive search groups. With 52 offices across 34 countries, IIC Partners provides MERC Partners with unrivalled global reach and the opportunity to exchange best practice and the latest innovations in executive search.

MERC Partners has been a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) for over 30 years, making it one of the longest standing member firms in Europe. AESC is the voice of excellence for the executive search and leadership consulting profession worldwide. The AESC seal represents quality and integrity.

www.merc.ie@MercPartners

ABOUT MERC PARTNERS

MERC Partners

11/12 Richview Office Park

Clonskeagh

Dublin 14

D14 N5X2

Ireland

www.merc.ie

www.iicpartners.com

+353 1 206 6700

[email protected]

@mercpartners

Documents

THE IRISH EXECUTIVE ABROAD · their views about working and living in Ireland and abroad, and creates a platform upon which we aim to stimulate a debate about what could be done to