The first annual migration figures since the vote to leave the European Union show a record fall in net migration to the UK.
While 230,000 more immigrants arrived in the UK than left in the year to June, fewer people arrived from the EU. There are a record 2.3 million EU citizens at work in the UK but the figures show the 100,000 fall in net migration may be the first clear show a direct effect of Brexit. In the year following the vote, 572,000 people came to live in the UK – significantly lower than the year before the vote although these figures should be viewed in light of the record highs in previous years. Three-quarters of the decline was due to the fact that fewer EU citizens arrived and more left. It is the largest single fall in net migration since records started to be kept in 1964. Key factors in the slowdown in arrivals from the EU include the strength of the continental economy, the weakness of the pound, and the fact that the UK hasn’t yet achieved a deal with Brussels on the rights of EU citizens after Brexit. This uncertainty is casting a large shadow over peoples’ decisions and is reflected by the fact that there has been an 80% jump in applications by settled EU nationals for British Citizenship.
Effect on Jobs and Industry
These falling figures will be championed by the Government and campaigners for lower immigration levels, but will be regarded with dismay by those in industries that have come to rely on foreign workers especially from Eastern Europe such as food processing, hotels and catering as economic research has found that immigration overall has been good for the British economy. Not all Europeans leaving are low skilled and migrant workers either, many skilled workers and professionals, for example, in the financial services industry are also moving to the Continent due to the unfavourable changes in the UK’s economic outlook. Investments are stalling and as clients are relocating, so too are highly skilled consultants. In spite of the decline, there are still are large number of immigrants coming to the UK every year: 107,000 from the EU and another 173,000 from the rest of the world. The net migration figure is still higher than the British Government’s target of less than 100,000 per annum.
