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EU migrants 'not hitting UK school-leavers' job prospects' EU migrants 'not hitting UK school-leavers' job prospects'
(about 1 hour later)
There is no strong evidence that new EU migrants have undermined the job prospects of Britain's school-leavers, according to a report by the government's official immigration experts.There is no strong evidence that new EU migrants have undermined the job prospects of Britain's school-leavers, according to a report by the government's official immigration experts.
But the home secretary's migration advisory committee (MAC) says future EU expansion – with eight candidate countries containing 90 million people earning a third to a half of average EU wage levels – could pose more of a concern.But the home secretary's migration advisory committee (MAC) says future EU expansion – with eight candidate countries containing 90 million people earning a third to a half of average EU wage levels – could pose more of a concern.
The official report on the impact of low-skilled migration on the workforce says there has only been a small negative impact on the low-paid but greater resources and more severe penalties are needed to enforce minimum wage laws. The official report on the impact of low-skilled migration on the workforce says there has only been a small negative impact on the low-paid, but greater resources and more severe penalties are needed to enforce minimum wage laws.
The report goes on to say that the net contribution to public finances from migrants who have come to Britain since 2001 is valued at £2.9bn or £162 per person per year. Migration from the EU, including from Poland, has been even more beneficial with a net contribution worth £22bn or £2,732 per person per year. It says the net contribution to public finances from non-EU migrants who have come to Britain since 2001 is valued at £2.9bn, or £162 per person per year. Migration from the EU, including from Poland, has been even more beneficial, with a net contribution worth £22bn or £2,732 per person per year.
The report says 75% of the 2.9 million rise in the foreign-born population in the past decade was concentrated in just a quarter of local authorities, putting pressure on housing and public services.The report says 75% of the 2.9 million rise in the foreign-born population in the past decade was concentrated in just a quarter of local authorities, putting pressure on housing and public services.
The report was commissioned by the immigration minister to examine the impact on the British labour market of the two million migrants who hold 16% of the 13m low-skilled jobs in Britain.The report was commissioned by the immigration minister to examine the impact on the British labour market of the two million migrants who hold 16% of the 13m low-skilled jobs in Britain.
Professor David Metcalf, the chairman of the MAC, said that their study showed that Britain's flexible labour market has worked well but there were insufficient resources devoted to enforcing the national minimum wage laws and taking action against gangmasters. "A typical employer can expect a compliance visit just once in every 250 years and a prosecution once in a million years," said Metcalf. Professor David Metcalf, chairman of the MAC, said the study showed that Britain's flexible labour market had worked well but there were insufficient resources devoted to enforcing the national minimum wage laws and taking action against gangmasters. "A typical employer can expect a compliance visit just once in every 250 years and a prosecution once in a million years," Metcalf said.
He said that the recent falls in employment rates of British school-leavers were a matter of serious concern but there was little evidence to show this was a direct consequence of increased competition for mainly low-skilled jobs from new migrant workers, especially after Poland joined the EU in 2004. He said recent falls in employment rates of British school-leavers were a matter of serious concern but there was little evidence to show this was a direct consequence of increased competition for mainly low-skilled jobs from new migrant workers, especially after Poland joined the EU in 2004.
"Schools presently have an incentive to boost the number of A*- C grades in GCSE exams. This may imply insufficient attention is given to those towards the bottom (and top) of the ability range," said Metcalf. "Schools presently have an incentive to boost the number of A*-C grades in GCSE exams. This may imply insufficient attention is given to those towards the bottom (and top) of the ability range," he said.
He added that many apprenticeships did not stretch the individual and there should be more efforts to improve the "soft skills" - such as making eye contact with customers - of those at the lower end of the ability range. He added that many apprenticeships did not stretch the individual and there should be more efforts to improve the "soft skills" – such as making eye contact with customers – of those at the lower end of the ability range.
Metcalf said employers' demand for migrant labour was strongly influenced by policies – such as education and training and pay levels in some publicly funded low-wage jobs – not directly related to immigration.Metcalf said employers' demand for migrant labour was strongly influenced by policies – such as education and training and pay levels in some publicly funded low-wage jobs – not directly related to immigration.
The study concludes that low-skilled migration has only a "small negative impact" on the wages of the low paid with effects varying widely between areas. The largest impact was in London where, at its peak in 2000, those in the bottom 20% of the pay scale saw a 15% reduction in wages as a result of competition from migration. Many employers told the MAC inquiry that migrants were not taking the jobs of UK-born workers but filling the gaps in jobs that many UK-born workers were not willing to take. The study concludes that low-skilled migration has only a "small negative impact" on the wages of the low paid, with effects varying widely between areas. The largest impact was in London where, at its peak in 2000, those in the bottom 20% of the pay scale saw a 15% reduction in wages as a result of competition from migration.
Many employers told the MAC inquiry that migrants were not taking the jobs of UK-born workers but filling the gaps in employment that many UK-born workers were not willing to fill.
A Whitehall spokesperson said they were "taking action across government to achieve a fair but tough immigration system by making controls on benefits, healthcare and housing among the tightest in Europe; by improving both academic and vocational education; by investing in skills and apprenticeships; and by increasing the number of British citizens in work".A Whitehall spokesperson said they were "taking action across government to achieve a fair but tough immigration system by making controls on benefits, healthcare and housing among the tightest in Europe; by improving both academic and vocational education; by investing in skills and apprenticeships; and by increasing the number of British citizens in work".