Record High Net Migration
Net migration peaked at +906,000 in June 2023, four times the 2019 level, and stood at +728,000 in June 2024.
Historically, net migration ranged from 200,000 to 300,000 (2010–2019).
Key Drivers of Increased Migration
Rise in non-EU migrants for work, study, and humanitarian reasons (e.g., Ukraine, Hong Kong).
Policy changes post-Brexit reduced skill and salary thresholds, increasing migration below degree level (RQF 3).
Expansion of the Health & Care visa route and increase in international students, especially to lower-ranked institutions.
Surge in dependants:
Health & Care visas: 55% issued to dependants (2021–23), rising to 75% in 2024.
Study visas: dependants rose from 5% in 2019 to 20% in 2023, now back to 5%.
Increased Stay Rates
More migrants (especially students and workers) are remaining in the UK longer, contributing to persistently high net migration.
Illegal Migration and Asylum
From 2018–2024, 220,000 irregular arrivals, mostly small boat crossings.
Additional asylum claims from people entering legally via other visa routes (e.g., 40,000 in 2024).
Economic and Social Impact
Migration has outpaced housing supply, increased pressure on public services, and impacted social cohesion.
GDP per capita has declined every quarter since 2022; as of Q2 2024, it's 0.6% below pre-COVID levels.
Migrant-heavy sectors (e.g., hospitality, care) have seen UK employment decline.
Skills and Workforce Gaps
Decline in UK-based training and apprenticeships (e.g., engineering apprenticeships fell by 30% from 2021 to 2025).
Employers relied on low-wage foreign labour, often at the expense of investing in domestic skills.
Noted exploitation in care sector and legal breaches.
Government's New Strategy
Aims to reduce net migration further and re-balance the immigration system by:
Raising the skill threshold for visas (from RQF 3 back towards RQF 6).
Limiting the Shortage Occupation List and making it temporary.
Closing the social care visa route.
Restricting and raising income thresholds for dependants.
Tightening English language requirements.
Extend qualifying period for settlement and citizenship (exceptions will apply – see below).
Reform Objectives
Align immigration with training, skills development, and industrial strategy.
Require workforce plans and employer commitments to training.
Create a Labour Market Evidence Group to coordinate data and policy.
Establish Skills England to drive national and devolved coordination.
Long-Term Goals
Reduce reliance on foreign labour.
Boost domestic participation, especially among youth and economically inactive people.
Shift growth from labour market expansion to productivity and skills-based growth.