Robert Jenrick recently shared some claims about immigration in his article. He stated that “one in five people in Britain today were not born here” and “just one in 20 of 2022’s migrants were net contributors” to the economy. Let’s break these down.
The first claim is spot on. As of June 2023, around 11.4 million residents in England and Wales were born outside the UK, making up about 19% of the population. That’s close to one in five. You can check the details from the Office for National Statistics.
However, the second claim about migrants in 2022 being mostly non-contributors lacks clear backing. We consulted Dr. Ben Bridle from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. He shared insights from HMRC data, indicating that about 240,000 migrants found jobs in 2022 and remained employed into 2024, earning over £30,000 annually. This suggests a positive economic contribution.
Dr. Bridle estimates these workers represent roughly a quarter of those who entered the UK with valid work visas in 2022. However, he also warned that it’s too soon to draw firm conclusions on the overall impact of recent migrants on the economy.
Various factors determine this impact. For instance, younger migrants often help public finances since they usually don’t access benefits. As they age, they might rely more on public services like the NHS, which could shift their economic contributions positively or negatively over time.
Recent discussions on social media echo these points, with many users debating the economic roles of migrants. Some highlight success stories of young professionals revitalizing local economies, while others express concerns about the strain on public services.
Ultimately, immigration remains a nuanced topic, and understanding the full picture requires looking beyond numbers. It involves considering various factors, including age, economic activity, and public service use over time.
