Immigration from EU into the UK at 10-year low

Long-term immigration to the UK has fallen to its lowest level since 2014, government data showed on Thursday, with migration from the European Union hitting a ten-year low.

In the year to September 2018, 627,000 people moved to the UK and 345,000 left, according to the Office for National Statistics said

Within that, non-EU net migration reached its highest level since 2004 as more people moved to the UK from countries outside the bloc to work and study, while EU net migration fell to a level not seen since 2009.

The ONS said that the decline in EU immigration had contributed to the number of people coming to the UK to work falling to its lowest point since 2014.

The data coincides with research by the manufacturing industry trade body, Make UK, which warned that the government’s proposed post-Brexit immigration policy, which includes a £30,000 salary cap, will have a “disastrous” impact on the British manufacturing sector.

Jay Lindop, deputy director for the Centre for International Migration, said: “Decisions to migrate are complex and a person’s decision to move to or from the UK will always be influenced by a range of factors, including work, study and family reasons.

“Different patterns for EU and non-EU migration have emerged since mid-2016, when the EU referendum vote took place. EU net migration, while still adding to the population as a whole, has fallen to a level last seen in 2009. We are also now seeing more EU8 citizens – those from Central and Eastern European countries, for example Poland – leaving the UK than arriving.”

Tej Parikh, senior economist at the Institute of Directors, said: “With job vacancies at record highs, recruiting from abroad has never been more crucial for British businesses.

“Already, firms across the retail, hospitality and construction sectors are facing obstacles as some EU workers are returning home, while it’s also becoming harder to attract labour from Europe amid the uncertain political climate.

“Businesses will be hoping immigration policy moves beyond political footballing and realises the importance of international workers, of all skillsets, for our industrial strategy.”