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Immigration from outside the EU 'linked to UK jobless' | Immigration from outside the EU 'linked to UK jobless' |
(40 minutes later) | |
The government's official advisers on migration say there is a link between immigration from outside the European Union and job losses among UK workers. | The government's official advisers on migration say there is a link between immigration from outside the European Union and job losses among UK workers. |
The Migration Advisory Committee said there were 23 fewer UK jobs for every 100 migrants from outside the EU. | The Migration Advisory Committee said there were 23 fewer UK jobs for every 100 migrants from outside the EU. |
But a separate report from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) says immigration has had little impact. | But a separate report from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) says immigration has had little impact. |
The government said it was working to reduce net migration. | The government said it was working to reduce net migration. |
Focus on 'well-being' | Focus on 'well-being' |
The Migration Advisory Committee (Mac) href="http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/workingwithus/mac/27-analysis-migration/01-analysis-report/analysis-of-the-impacts?view=Binary" >estimates 160,000 British-born workers' jobs have been "displaced" following non-EU immigration between 1995 and 2010. | |
The impact and displacement of British workers does not last forever, it found. | The impact and displacement of British workers does not last forever, it found. |
Confused? You're entitled to be. On Monday Migrationwatch suggested a link between the influx of workers from Eastern Europe since 2004 and a rise in UK youth unemployment. | Confused? You're entitled to be. On Monday Migrationwatch suggested a link between the influx of workers from Eastern Europe since 2004 and a rise in UK youth unemployment. |
24 hours later, the National Institute for Economic and Social Research said immigration had had little or no impact on the number of jobless benefit claimants. | 24 hours later, the National Institute for Economic and Social Research said immigration had had little or no impact on the number of jobless benefit claimants. |
Now the Migration Advisory Committee says there's an "association" between non-EU migration and job losses among those born in Britain. | Now the Migration Advisory Committee says there's an "association" between non-EU migration and job losses among those born in Britain. |
So who's right? It's possible they all are - because they all looked at slightly different things. | So who's right? It's possible they all are - because they all looked at slightly different things. |
But the Mac report is arguably the most persuasive because it draws on in-depth analysis and research - and it just makes sense. | But the Mac report is arguably the most persuasive because it draws on in-depth analysis and research - and it just makes sense. |
The effects of non-EU migration are most keenly felt in the economic bad times, it says, when vacancies are scarce, and in the short-term, before the labour market has time to adjust. | The effects of non-EU migration are most keenly felt in the economic bad times, it says, when vacancies are scarce, and in the short-term, before the labour market has time to adjust. |
"Those migrants who have been in the UK for over five years are not associated with displacement of British-born workers," it said. | "Those migrants who have been in the UK for over five years are not associated with displacement of British-born workers," it said. |
The committee also looked at the effect of migration on salaries, and found overall wages for the most well-paid people went up, while those at the bottom went down. | The committee also looked at the effect of migration on salaries, and found overall wages for the most well-paid people went up, while those at the bottom went down. |
The report also added that EU migration had had "little or no impact" on the native employment rate. | The report also added that EU migration had had "little or no impact" on the native employment rate. |
Mac chairman Professor David Metcalf said it was difficult to identify the occupations which would be most affected. | |
But he highlighted information and communications technology, hospitality and retail as sectors which could see the most impact. | But he highlighted information and communications technology, hospitality and retail as sectors which could see the most impact. |
Health and care services have also employed large numbers of migrants, he said, but this was mainly at a time of shortage of UK workers so British jobs were unlikely to have been displaced. | Health and care services have also employed large numbers of migrants, he said, but this was mainly at a time of shortage of UK workers so British jobs were unlikely to have been displaced. |
He said: "Assessing the impacts of migration is not a simple decision and our conclusions will require careful consideration by the government." | |
But considering overall GDP did not present a "true picture", he said. | But considering overall GDP did not present a "true picture", he said. |
"Instead, the impact of migration on the economic well-being of the resident population should be the focus. | "Instead, the impact of migration on the economic well-being of the resident population should be the focus. |
"Impact assessments must also consider wider effects such as the effects of skills transfer from migrants and their impacts on public finances, employability of UK workers, housing and transport. | "Impact assessments must also consider wider effects such as the effects of skills transfer from migrants and their impacts on public finances, employability of UK workers, housing and transport. |
"Although difficult to measure, these will ensure we can better understand the effects of migration." | "Although difficult to measure, these will ensure we can better understand the effects of migration." |
Dr Scott Blinder, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, agreed. | |
"This report highlights the need to decide and articulate more clearly whose needs government is prioritising when developing immigration policy," he said. | "This report highlights the need to decide and articulate more clearly whose needs government is prioritising when developing immigration policy," he said. |
"Trade-offs need to be confronted head on. | "Trade-offs need to be confronted head on. |
"Without more debate and clarity about whose interests policy is trying to maximise, we cannot hope to reach more agreement about the costs and benefits of specific policies." | "Without more debate and clarity about whose interests policy is trying to maximise, we cannot hope to reach more agreement about the costs and benefits of specific policies." |
Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "This government is working to reduce net migration from the hundreds of thousands a year we saw under the last government, to the tens of thousands we saw in the 1990s. | Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "This government is working to reduce net migration from the hundreds of thousands a year we saw under the last government, to the tens of thousands we saw in the 1990s. |
"Controlled immigration can bring benefits to the UK, but uncontrolled immigration can put pressure on public services, on infrastructure and on community relations. | "Controlled immigration can bring benefits to the UK, but uncontrolled immigration can put pressure on public services, on infrastructure and on community relations. |
"This report makes clear that it can also put pressure on the local labour market." | "This report makes clear that it can also put pressure on the local labour market." |
'Strong work ethic' | 'Strong work ethic' |
Earlier the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said there was "no association" between migration and the numbers of people claiming unemployment. | Earlier the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said there was "no association" between migration and the numbers of people claiming unemployment. |
The study looked at the number of migrants given National Insurance numbers between 2002-3 and 2010-11 and compared them with the number claiming unemployment benefits. | The study looked at the number of migrants given National Insurance numbers between 2002-3 and 2010-11 and compared them with the number claiming unemployment benefits. |
The NIESR said: "The results show a very small negative and generally insignificant correlation between the migrant inflow rate and the change in the claimant count rate. | The NIESR said: "The results show a very small negative and generally insignificant correlation between the migrant inflow rate and the change in the claimant count rate. |
"For all practical purposes, these results suggest that migration has essentially no impact on claimant count unemployment." | "For all practical purposes, these results suggest that migration has essentially no impact on claimant count unemployment." |
But it said it was still not known whether an increase in the number of migrants coming to the UK leads to a fall in the number of low-skilled jobs for British workers which is masked by more jobs for highly skilled Britons. | But it said it was still not known whether an increase in the number of migrants coming to the UK leads to a fall in the number of low-skilled jobs for British workers which is masked by more jobs for highly skilled Britons. |
Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tighter immigration controls, welcomed the report. | |
Sir Andrew Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: "This is a thoroughly professional report. | |
"The committee has had the courage to say straight out that immigration can add to unemployment, especially during a recession. | |
"They are also right to draw attention to impacts that are harder to quantify - such as housing and congestion." |