The 2024 University of Limerick Autumn careers fair kicked off this morning at the UL Sports Arena.
Thousands of soon to be graduates attended the fair today to seek out potential opportunities in their future careers.
The fair has more than 170 organisations, both large and small, national and international, accepting 2025’s batch of graduates. Including companies with focuses on engineering, science, law, politics and languages.
Students struggle with a future in Ireland
Speaking to fourth year and postgraduate students who attended the event, many of them remarked that emigration was their only feasible option moving forward.
“It’s tough with the housing crisis. That is a big factor of me wanting to move abroad”, said Ashley, a fourth-year Applied Languages student.
“I think young people are definitely being pushed out. Also, the cost of living is extreme here and there is no public transport available”, she added.
In a survey conducted by the Journal in May 2024, eight percent of people aged between 18 and 34 years stated they are actively planning on leaving Ireland.
Exhibitors share a more positive perspective
However, speaking with employers who attended the fair, a more optimistic outlook was portrayed for the future of graduates in Ireland.
“There are so many jobs in the medtech space in Ireland for graduates”, said a staff member from Philips Medsize.
“This year we got the largest graduate intake to date. We took on roughly 30,” remarked a team member from EisenAmper Ireland, who graduated from the University of Limerick five years ago and sees a lot of opportunity in the business programme.
The 2024 careers fair was a beneficial way for students to engage and network with national and global organisations, however, it is apparent that although there are so many opportunities for Irish graduates, many look forward to leaving Ireland due to the ongoing issues our country faces today.