Latest ONS migration stats out, unlikely to please either side in the args about the issue. Net imm looks to be stabilising at around 200-250k per year, well above govt's continuing (though increasingly irrelevant) "tens of thousands" target 1/?
Net migration is down fair bit on the record levels of 15-16, but this is driven by an increase in emigration. Migration arrivals continue in the 550k-650k range we have seen for most of the past 15 yrs. No evidence really that Britain is becoming less attractive overall to imms
There are some interesting compositional changes in the data. Falls in EU imm continue, driven in particular by falls in EU15 imms with job offers. This may be due to Britain being less attractive post Brexit to ppl from W Europe, but also may be lower £ and better local options
The decline is more than offset by increased imm from outside the EU, particularly from S Asia. Most coming to "definite job". Creates problem for those saying Brexit will enable "taking back control of imm" - as imm is increasingly from places we already control.
OTOH the number of imms coming from the EU to look for jobs in Britain, rather than take up a job offer - a category which concerns the public more - fell sharply in yr after EU ref vote from 80k to 30k, and remains at this much lower level. Falls from all parts of EU.
A very large section of the immigration inflows (nearly 200k of 650k) continues to be young ppl coming from abroad to study in our universities. Repeated surveys have shown the public do not consider such ppl to be migrants.
Overall, these figures pose problems for those who claim migrants shunning an intolerant "Brexit Britain". They clearly aren't.
Also pose problems for those claiming public concern driven primarily by numbers. Public oppo to imm sharply down on many measures, but numbers aren't.
Also pose problems for those claiming public concern driven primarily by numbers. Public oppo to imm sharply down on many measures, but numbers aren't.
PS v much like the new ONS approach of presenting multiple data source and highlighting uncertainty of estimates in both graphs and text - really underscores that we still do not have reliable or consistent measures of migration despite years of public concern abt the issue.
