This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33603993
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Wide variations in migrant work statistics, report finds | Wide variations in migrant work statistics, report finds |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Employment levels, wages and benefits vary widely between different groups of migrants in the UK, analysis suggests. | Employment levels, wages and benefits vary widely between different groups of migrants in the UK, analysis suggests. |
| Research by MigrationWatch, which campaigns for tighter immigration controls, looked at employment status, wages and benefit claims. | |
| Migrants from the US, Australia and South Africa were found to earn much more than the UK-born population. | Migrants from the US, Australia and South Africa were found to earn much more than the UK-born population. |
| By contrast, people from Pakistan and Bangladesh tended to earn much less, the research suggested. | By contrast, people from Pakistan and Bangladesh tended to earn much less, the research suggested. |
| The study used data from the official Labour Force Survey of 100,000 people. | The study used data from the official Labour Force Survey of 100,000 people. |
| It suggests: | It suggests: |
| It also suggests that more migrants than UK-born people claim housing benefit, tax credits and child benefit. | It also suggests that more migrants than UK-born people claim housing benefit, tax credits and child benefit. |
| However, claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance differ little between migrants and UK-born people. | However, claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance differ little between migrants and UK-born people. |
| Migrant claims were noticeably lower for sickness and disability benefits and carers' allowances, the study suggests. | Migrant claims were noticeably lower for sickness and disability benefits and carers' allowances, the study suggests. |
| MigrationWatch chairman, Lord Green of Deddington, said the analysis showed that the argument that all immigration to the UK was beneficial could not possibly be right. | |
| He said any sensible policy should take account of the real differences in economic characteristics between migrants from different parts of the world. | He said any sensible policy should take account of the real differences in economic characteristics between migrants from different parts of the world. |
| "If immigration policy has been intended to attract only 'the brightest and the best' it has clearly failed, with a very large number of migrants earning less or claiming more than the British-born," he added. | "If immigration policy has been intended to attract only 'the brightest and the best' it has clearly failed, with a very large number of migrants earning less or claiming more than the British-born," he added. |
| "The clear message of this research is that immigration can be reduced substantially while permitting entry to those migrants that our economy really needs." | "The clear message of this research is that immigration can be reduced substantially while permitting entry to those migrants that our economy really needs." |
| Neil Carberry, of business lobby group the CBI, said the evidence clearly showed the "vast majority" of migrants came to the UK to study or work, not to claim benefits. | |
| The government was right to pursue a managed immigration policy, he told the BBC, but warned a one-size-fits-all approach that did not recognise different types of migration should be resisted and making assumptions based on migrants' home countries added little to the debate. | |
| Right job | Right job |
| Don Flynn, director of charity Migrants' Rights Network, said the analysis appeared to be spun to suggest that migrants were more likely to receive benefits than UK-born people, and some migrants were poor performers. | |
| But, he said, the overall position remained that migrants performed better than their cost to the taxpayer, and there was nothing in the study to challenge that. | But, he said, the overall position remained that migrants performed better than their cost to the taxpayer, and there was nothing in the study to challenge that. |
| He added the government should focus on making sure often highly-qualified migrants were employed in the right level of job, which would also mean they would not need in-work benefits. | |
| The BBC is waiting for a comment from the government on this latest analysis. | |
| In May the prime minister insisted he would not give up on his target to reduce net migration to below 100,000. | |
| Last year, net migration rose by 50% to 318,000, the highest level for a decade - with sharp increases from inside and outside the EU. | Last year, net migration rose by 50% to 318,000, the highest level for a decade - with sharp increases from inside and outside the EU. |