Official figures indicate net migration is falling, yet concern among Britons is close to the highest it has been since polling began in 1974
Rolling news coverage of protests outside asylum hotels, a series of government announcements on asylum seekers, and Reform’s party conference meant that immigration was once again the political topic of the summer.
In August almost half of Britons (48%) listed immigration as one of the top issues facing the UK. This year has recorded the highest concerns over immigration – outside of one other period during the 2015 Europe migrant crisis – since polling company Ipsos started asking the question in 1974.
But what do the figures really show – and do all of the claims made about immigrants add up?
Despite public concern about immigration rising in recent months, official figures show that the number of people coming into the country is falling – albeit from a record high peak.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that net migration has mainly hovered between 200,000 and 300,000 people a year since 2011. However, since Brexit came into effect on New Year’s Eve 2020, there has been a large increase in the number of immigrants. Commentators and critics have called this the “Boriswave”, as it occurred following the new post-Brexit immigration system introduced by Boris Johnson.
Recent figures show that the wave is subsiding. Net migration fell by half in 2024, and recent rule changes mean it is expected to fall further. This is largely because of a decrease in health and care visas. Fewer people are now escaping the Ukraine war or fleeing the Taliban through the now closed Afghan humanitarian scheme.
Student visas have also declined. Applications were down 1.5% in August (when student visa applications spiked ahead of the academic year) compared with 2024, and down 18% on the same month in 2023.
In comments to the BBC following his conference speech, Reform leader Nigel Farage blamed Johnson for “millions of people being allowed into Britain, most of whom by the way don’t even work and are costing us a fortune”. However, the available evidence complicates his version of events.
Most people claiming asylum aren’t allowed to work. But despite the large media focus on small boats and asylum seekers, these only make up a tiny proportion of the overall number of people coming to the UK – less than 5% of Home Office visas granted and arrivals detected in 2025.
The largest proportion of people coming into the UK is made up of students (about 47%, including dependents). Students aren’t expected to work, but do contribute by paying fees towards their degrees, and can’t get indefinite leave to remain so either leave the UK or contribute by moving into paid work afterwards.
The second largest group are people on working visas, who make up 20%, with their dependents making up 11%.
Currently, the published data on immigrant earnings is patchy – and isn’t helped by ongoing issues with the ONS labour force survey.
Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said that while the data on employment was imperfect and rates “vary widely by immigration category”, the figures suggested employment rates among recent migrants were “not far off existing residents or long-standing migrants”.
A Home Office report managed to link some visa types that were granted between 2019 and 2023, to pay as you earn (PAYE) earnings in the 2023-24 financial year – with most of them recording earnings. As for those without records, it’s probable most will have already left the country.
It’s not just people on working visas who work. The report also found that almost half of people entering on family visas (48%) had some PAYE earnings (and again that’s not including those who are self employed or left the country).
Much of the talk around immigration recently has focused on dependents – family members who are allowed to immigrate alongside the main visa holder. New health and care workers were prevented from bringing their children and other dependents by the Sunak government, as were most students.
The PAYE data suggests many dependents do in fact work – 81% of health and care worker dependents, 45% of skilled worker dependents, and 25% of senior or specialist visa dependents received earnings (once again – these don’t take into account the self-employed, or the fact that many will have left the country. Adjusting the figures to account for the primary visa holders that have left raises the estimates further).
Among all the different types of people coming to the UK, newly arrived refugees (around 28% according to some estimates) and those on humanitarian visas are the least likely to be in work.
In terms of overall earnings, the Migration Observatory found that the immigrant earnings grow quickly – the median non-EU immigrant worker in 2024 earned similar or slightly more than the median UK worker.
So will recent migrants – as Farage stated – cost the UK a fortune in the long run? Based on the available data we still can’t tell – but given the fact that most people moving to the UK won’t be going through the school system, and also have to pay towards their NHS treatment, it’s unlikely they would cost more than others.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has set an immigration quota of 9,203 people for 2023.
According to the government decree No. 111 of February 7, the quota for relatives of citizens of Ukraine (full siblings, grandfathers and grandmothers, grandchildren) was 845 persons; for persons who were previously citizens of the country – 396 persons; for parents, spouses and minor children of immigrants – 2.055 thousand people; workers of science and culture, immigration of whom corresponds to interests of Ukraine – 850 people.
For persons who have carried out foreign investment activities in the Ukrainian economy in foreign convertible currency in an amount not less than $100 thousand immigration is established without restrictions.
In addition, this year under the quota can immigrate to Ukraine 5 thousand highly qualified specialists or workers who are in dire need of the economy of the country.
Among other things, a quota of 57 persons has been set for persons who have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for three or more years.
There is no quota for persons who have lived continuously in the territory of the state for three years from the date of their status as victims of human trafficking.
As reported, in 2021 the immigration quota was 9,818 persons, and in 2022 – 8,488 persons.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has set an immigration quota for 2022 at 8,488 people.
The relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday.
In particular, a quota for relatives of Ukrainian citizens (siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and granddaughters) was 805 people; for persons who were previously citizens of the country – 406 people; for parents, spouses and minor children of immigrants – 2,345 people; and figures of science and culture, whose immigration meets the interests of Ukraine – 730 people.
For persons who have carried out foreign investment activities in the economy of Ukraine in foreign convertible currency in the amount of at least $100,000, immigration is established without restrictions.
In addition, this year, 4,101 highly qualified specialists or workers can immigrate to Ukraine under a quota, the urgent need for which is tangible for the country’s economy.
Among other things, a quota of 99 people has been established for persons who have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for three or more years.
For persons who have continuously lived in the territory of the state for three years from the date of establishing a status of victims of human trafficking for them, a quota of two people has been established.
As reported, in 2021, the immigration quota was 9,818 people.
Foreigners and stateless persons who have invested over $100,000 in enterprises established by them in Ukraine will have the opportunity to apply for an immigration permit in Ukraine.
The relevant resolution was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on Wednesday without discussion, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent said.
According to the draft document posted on the government’s website, such investments must be confirmed by a certificate from the bank on the receipt of such an amount to the immigrant’s investment account and its use for foreign investment in the Ukrainian economy. Or a bank certificate on the transfer of such an amount to the current account of the enterprise from the personal foreign account of the immigrant.
In turn, the State Migration Service of Ukraine, in accordance with the document, checks in the bank before making a decision whether these investments have not been returned.
In addition, the government has included persons who have served in the Armed Forces for more than three years in the list of those who are subject to immigration quota and who are eligible to apply for Ukrainian citizenship.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has set the government to draft and submit to the Verkhovna Rada bills aimed at developing the IT industry in Ukraine.
According to the presidential website, Zelensky signed relevant decree No. 371/2020 on September 3, 2020.
According to the document, the Cabinet of Ministers, with the involvement of representatives of government agencies, business associations, independent experts and MPs, should draft and submit to the parliament bills aimed at stimulating the implementation of economic activities in the field of information technologies within three months.
In particular, at the legislative level, the temporal features of the taxation of salaries of IT specialists who are in labour relations with IT companies should be determined in order to establish an effective level of the tax burden and promote the shadowing of the salary sphere and increase the competitiveness of internal IT companies in the external market.
The president also insists on improving the procedure for carrying out procedural actions in the course of criminal proceedings in order to prevent unjustified interference in the activities of IT companies.
In addition, according to the decree, the government should improve the procedures for obtaining an immigration permit by IT specialists who are foreigners or stateless persons and immigrating to Ukraine and obtaining a work permit for foreigners and stateless persons by an employer (IT company).
The Cabinet of Ministers should also contribute to the development of education in the field of information technology and the integration of the best world practices into the system of training IT specialists to increase their competitiveness in the labour market.
According to the document, the improvement of vocational training, retraining and advanced training of the unemployed should be ensured be involving educational institutions that train specialists in the IT field.
The decree comes into force on the day of its publication.
