As per new figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show, net migration to the UK faces a visible drop by a quarter to 246,000 in a year. Analysts said the impending Brexit is to blame for the dramatic slowdown from the EU. The figure shows net migration at the lowest for three years.
The ONS said the change was mostly caused by plummeting arrivals from the European Union, as the number of EU citizens leaving Britain rose by 33,000. EU net migration was estimated at 127,000 to March, down 51,000 on the previous year, while the figure for the rest of the world was down by 14,000 to 179,000. Head of international migration statistics, Nicola White said, “The net migration change was driven by an increase in emigration, mainly for EU citizens and in particular EU8 citizens, and a decrease in immigration across all groups.” She added, “These results indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people's decision to migrate into and out of the UK, particularly EU and EU8 citizens. It is too early to tell if this is an indication of a long-tern trend.”
Commenting on the migration statistics, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said the government's migration policy was in “shambles”. “Against all advice, Theresa May continues to insist in maintaining an arbitrary net migration target of under 100,00, which has never once been met. Labour will offer fair rules and reasonable management of migration; prioritising jobs, growth and prosperity, not bogus net migration targets.”
Political analyst Stephen Clarke said changes revealed by the statistics will have “significant implications for the UK's labour market”. “The fall in net migration was driven by those from Eastern Europe, with the most significant fall coming from nationals of the EU8 countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic. Net migration by this group was just 7000 in the year to March, down from around 40,000 a year ago.”
Given unemployment is currently at its lowest level ever, without the 3 million EU citizens living here the UK would have an acute labour shortage. Signs that it is becoming a less attractive place to live and work are a concern,” said Seamus Nevin, head of employment and skills policy at the Institute of Directors. Of the 275,000 who arrived to work, majority had a definite job waiting and a smaller proportion, 87,000 came looking for a job.
Number of people moving abroad to work increased by 21,000 to 122,000. Jonathan Portes, professor of economics at King's College London said separate statistics released by HMRC “show, once again, that benefit tourism is a myth”. He added, “Less than 2 per cent of tax credit expenditure is paid to recently arrived EEA nationals.” Portes said Brexit had a “significant impact on migration flows even before we have left the EU” or changed policy.
