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IRISH PEOPLE ARE the most optimistic citizens in Europe, an EU agency has found.
Just under half of Irish respondents to the latest quality of life survey by Eurofound said they feel optimistic about the future, which was 15 percentage points higher than the European average.
Eurofound, the Dublin-based EU work and society research centre, also found that Irish citizens record higher rates of life satisfaction compared to other European countries.
The survey, conducted in Spring 2024 and published today, shows that Irish respondents have the most optimistic view on life, with Denmark and Austria the next most optimistic countries.
The researchers said rates of optimism recorded in those aged between 16-29 were, on average, 18 percentage points higher than those aged 40-45.
Within age groups, recorded rates of optimism also fluctuate depending on factors such as disability, employment and relationship status, gender, education and income levels and whether or not the respondent lives with a significant other.
Those with higher levels of disposable income were more likely to record positive rates of optimism compared to those on lower income levels. Respondents who were unemployed or had a disability were also found to have significantly lower rates of optimism.
Meanwhile, Ireland placed joint third, with six other nations, in the life satisfaction rating, by country. Respondents recorded a satisfaction level of 6.2, slightly higher than the European average of 5.8.
Joining Ireland in the third-place spot are Germany, Spain, Czechia, Luxembourg and Finland.
Researches found there has been a declining level of life satisfaction among respondents aged between 35-64 in recent years. Researchers also found that employment status and levels of income impacts respondents’ satisfaction levels.
Ireland scored higher-than-average in areas like the rates of remote working, and also on views towards the status of democracy and trust in public institutions, as well as on being able to make ends meet.
However, the research centre states that a notable cohort of European citizens, three in ten, are struggling to make ends meet.
One in ten respondents said they had missed a rent or mortgage payment since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, while 15% reported that they were in arrears due to utility bills.
Citizens in Greece, Estonia and Croatia were most-likely to report financial difficulties to researches. The most common unaffordable expenses included new furniture, leisure activities and holidays.
Others reported having a only small amount of money to spend on themselves each week or for meeting with family or friends at least once a month.
Head of social policy at Eurofound, Massimiliano Mascherini, said the results of the survey reveal that sustained levels of inflation have “depleted” financial resilience.
He said it has led to certain cohorts of society struggling every day.
“This is having notable social and political consequences,” he added.
Eurofound recommended that EU nations implement stronger social security nets for citizens who are financially struggling and address unmet healthcare needs for those with disabilities, mental health needs and general long-term health issues.
Separately, the research institution also recommends that member states implement national strategies to address the mental health needs of European citizens.
On employment, Eurofound suggest the continued promotion of flexible and hybrid working structures – such as the right to disconnect already in place in Ireland – and encourage more employment for people with disabilities.
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Communism doesn’t work !
I saw on the TV that china are sending their workers to work in the mines in Zambia and in the forrests in Brazil that they own. This is a result of their work ethic of 7 days weeks with 10 to 12 hour days. As the work dries up in china I expect them to export more workers to Europe and wherever else they own. Our government have just agreed to grant more visas and set up a hub for the Chinese entry point to the EU. We ate selling our soul to the slave masters.
“as the work dries up in china”??? uneducated claptrap, only germany exports more than china and that will soon reverse, they are buying as much of africa,asia and south america as they can for 3 reasons, food production to feed their massive population, mineral aquisition to supply their massive industrial production demand and energy production as a commodity to sell to europe and north america, one such plan is the covering of deserts with solar panels, my brother works for a chinese shipping company, they build cities to produce specific items like solar panels or oil pumps, within the next 3 years they will over take the usa as the worlds leading economy, their major advantages is their work ethic and flexibility, as the work dries up in china indeed, also they are building casinos all over the world, in the last 5 years the chinese have built more casinos in asia than all casinos previously built in the rest of the world combined
Their work ethic is impressive, however life is absolutely worthless there. If China becomes the leading world power, which it will, in next 5 years, it will represent a massive threat to democracy and freedom and could lead to rights we have taken for granted being rolled back.
It’s the land of the indentured slave.
When the Chinese are the next super power we will wish we had the americans back. Their work ethic is a slavery work ethic – and its not communism its capitalism with Asian values. I saw the zambian workers, they said the Chinese are the worst to work for.
Ah no it only grew by 8%, how will they manage ! They should come back here for some lessons from Bertie.
Er, basically this is another sign that international capitalism is in meltdown and only communism can save the oppressed masses…er……
I take it dave from your comment you have never been to a communist country
I’m pretty sure Dave was taking the piss guys.
see what happens when you sell your kidneys for an Ipad!!!
I was watching an analyst on BBC earlier who stated that at this stage anything below 7% growth on China would basically be viewed as a recession by the markets… nice for some!
The analyst on c4 also suggested that at the worst case scenario if economic growth serioiusly stalls in China the party may choose the option of uniting the people against the threat of an outside enemy to stop the huge population turning on itself.
broken china in the 1 percents display cabinet , they wont be happy
8.1%????…..Christ we’d take a quarter of that!
so 8.1 % means the total size of the Chinese economy doubles every 9 years. Physically impossible. there isnt enough resources or markets in the world. Oil peaked in 2006 and Chinese export economy is impossible without oil at a reasonable price.
@revolting peasant ‘mineral acquisition’ is a very tame way to describe resource plunder and environmental destruction.
That’s what a visit from Enda can do.
have your say