ONS Figures Show Migration Into UK Has Stabilized

From the ONS. 

Migration is a complex issue and to fully understand it we need to consider all information. Our best assessment shows around 280,000 more people coming to the UK than leaving in 2017, so net migration has continued to add to the UK population.

Net migration has fallen following record levels in 2015 and early 2016 and has been broadly stable since. This is similar to the level recorded in year ending September 2014. Underlying this, immigration has remained broadly stable at around 630,000 and emigration has shown a gradual increase since 2015 and is currently around 350,000.

Our assessment is that net migration has been broadly stable over the last year. Although the Long-Term International Migration (LTIM) estimates show an increase in net migration over the latest year, this is due to an unusual pattern in the estimates for student immigration in 2016, which was not seen in other sources and which our quality work suggests is an anomaly.

The number of non-EU citizens coming to the UK to study has remained relatively stable over the past few years based on an assessment of the International Passenger Survey (IPS), Home Office data on long-term study visas and Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data together.

EU net migration continues to add to the UK population with around 100,000 more EU citizens coming to the UK than leaving. The estimated number of EU citizens coming to the UK “looking for work” continued to decrease over the last year and the number coming to the UK for a definite job has remained stable.

Since 2014, non-EU IPS estimates and Home Office data on long-term work visas show those coming to the UK to work have remained relatively stable, with increases for those on skilled work visas.

ABC Note: Because of the nature of illegal migration it is not possible to quantify accurately the number of people who are in the country illegally. 

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