26 October 2007

British economy boosted by UK immigration

A new government report reveals that the recent wave of UK immigration has directly affected the British economy for the better, with the report also indicating that the foreign-born workers who make up an eighth of the UK workforce are also believed to be more productive than native workers

The news comes from the Economic and Fiscal Impact of Immigration, who analysed the impact of the 574,000 migrants that came to settle in Britain in the 12 months up to June 2006. It stated:

"In recent years migrants have made a more positive contribution to the public finances than native workers and have often been highly skilled and accordingly captured higher labour market rewards."

Despite the report, detractors of the current UK immigration process still claim that migrants are putting too heavy a strain on UK public services to properly be considered a boon to the British economy, with the housing market and healthcare services given as two examples of sectors struggling to meet the demand.

However, changes are already in place to ensure that UK visas are only allocated to qualified, experienced migrant workers, with Immigration Minister Liam Byrne revealing his plans to shift the UK migration process towards the Australian points-based model.

Few details have been revealed regarding the changes (scheduled to take effect in 2008), but experts anticipate that they will further sustain the integrity and functionality of the UK immigration process.

Anyone interested in getting a better understanding of their current position under UK visa regulations should request a call from a qualified UK Visa Bureau migration consultant to see if they are eligible for migration to the UK, or call direct on Freephone 0800 043 7011. Alternatively, HSMP visa hopefuls should try taking the HSMP online assessment.