UK immigration plan could impact and reduce Scottish workers

The British government’s immigration plan could reduce Sottish workers by 5% over the next 20-years.

Professor Christina Boswell, part of an advisory group of the university of Edinburgh, was asked by the Scottish government to provide independent expert advice over migration, demographic changes and population growth.

The advisory groups findings, have suggested the British governments white paper, could slash net migration to Scotland by one third after 2020.

The plan will see salary thresholds introduced however, it has been estimated that 63% of workers in Scotland earn below £30,000 per annum and the threshold will exclude a larger proportion of women then men.

Ben Macpherson, migration minister said, “The Scottish government has been consistently clear that freedom of movement has enriched Scotland and should be allowed to continue.

“The UK government’s focus on reducing immigration will damage Scotland and does not reflect the needs of our economy, our public services or our communities.

“This independent report raises additional concerns about the effect UK government immigration proposals will have on Scotland’s rural and suburban areas and demographics.

“The findings also reinforce the case for creating fair, tailor-made immigration solutions for Scotland that value all skills, work for businesses and support the delivery of public services across the country”.

Professor Boswell said, “As the UK government elaborates its proposals for immigration policy after Brexit, it is vital that we understand the effects of changes to migration on Scotland’s economy and society.

“If the UK government’s proposals are enacted, we are likely to see a substantial fall in net migration to Scotland over the coming decades.

“But importantly, the effects of this reduction will vary across different sectors and local areas. The report considers the particular challenges for sectors reliant on non-UK workers who earn less than the proposed £30,000 threshold – such as accommodation and food services, manufacturing, and social care.

“It also considers the particular challenges for rural and remote communities, which are especially reliant on in-migration to sustain economic livelihoods and public services, but which will be most affected by the proposed salary threshold.

“The proposed transitional arrangements for short-term migration are also likely to lead to higher churn and integration challenges in local communities.

“We also find that the proposed changes would have gender impacts, potentially leading to a lower proportion of female migrants.

“We suggest that discussion on the UK’s future immigration system needs to be underpinned by more comprehensive analysis on the range of effects, across different sectors, local areas, and by gender.”