New Migration Observatory report analyses how the migration of highly skilled workers to the UK has changed in the years 2007-2013
The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has published a new report looking at highly skilled migration to the UK in the years 2007-2013.
You can read the 20-page report here.
The report is based on research undertaken for the Financial Times and uses the UK Labour Force Survey, which provides rich information on the skill levels of workers in the UK, to provide insights on how highly skilled migration to the UK has changed during the reporting period.
The Migration Observatory says there is little information about how highly skilled migration to the UK has changed in recent years, amidst key changes such as the introduction of the point based system and Government policies to decrease net migration.
The report focuses on highly skilled recent migrant workers (RMW), with RMWs defined as individuals born outside the UK who are not UK nationals, have been in the UK for less than three years and are in employment.
The Migration Observatory found that there has been a decline of 28% in the number of highly-skilled RMW in the UK since 2007. However, the decline is driven by reductions in workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), while the number of highly-skilled recent migrant workers from “old” EU countries has increased since 2011.
The report lists the following key statistics:
Highly educated RMW (left full time education at age 21 or later)
• The total number of highly educated RMW decreased from 338,000 in 2007 to 188,000 in 2010 (44% decrease), the lowest estimate for the 2007-2013 period. The number for 2013 was 242,000, a reduction of 28% compared to 2007 and a reduction of 10% compared to 2011. This does not indicate a reduction in the total stock of highly educated migrants working in the UK, but just a reduction in the recent arrivals (i.e. those migrant workers who arrived to the UK less than three years ago).
• The number of highly educated non-EEA RMW – this represents those who have been most affected by recent government policies designed to decrease net migration – decreased from 155,000 in 2007 to 109,000 in 2010, a 30% decrease. This number decreased further in 2013 to 94,000, a reduction of 39% compared to 2007 and a reduction of 39% compared to 2011.
• The number of highly educated Old EU RMW decreased from 61,000 in 2007 to 33,000 in 2010, a 46% decrease. The number increased to 78,000 in 2013, an increase of 28% compared to 2007 and an increase of 53% compared to 2011.
• The number of highly educated A8 RMW decreased from 111,000 in 2007 to 37,000 in 2010, a 67% decrease. This number was 54,000 in 2013, a reduction of 51% compared to 2007 and about the same value as 2011.
RMW in top occupations ('Managers, Directors and Senior Officials', 'Professional Occupations')
• The number of RMW in the top two major occupation groups (i.e. 'Managers, Directors and Senior Officials' and 'Professional Occupations') decreased from 125,000 in 2007 to 79,000 in 2010 (37% decrease), the lowest estimate for the 2007-2013 period. The number for 2013 was 97,000 a reduction of 22% compared to 2007 and a reduction of 6% compared to 2011.
• The number of non-EEA RMW in the top two major occupation groups decreased from 82,000 in 2007 to 49,000 in 2010 (40% decrease), the lowest estimate for the 2007-2013 period. The number for 2013 was 44,000 a reduction of 46% compared to 2007 and 32% compared to 2011.
• The number of Old EU RMW in the top two major occupation groups decreased from 31,000 in 2007 to 15,000 in 2010 (52% decrease), the lowest estimate for the 2007-2013 period. The number for 2013 was 45,000, an increase of 45% compared to 2007 and 50% compared to 2011.
• The number of A8 RMW in the top two major occupation groups is very small and estimates are not considered reliable for comparison across years.
Highly educated share of RMW
• The share of all RMW that is highly educated increased from 50% in 2007 to 60% in 2013. That is, the reduction in non-highly educated RMW was greater than the reduction in highly educated RMW for the 2007- 2013 period.
• The share of non-EEA RMW that is highly educated increased from 58% in 2007 to 68% in 2013.
• The share of Old EU RMW that is highly educated saw little change, from an estimated 70% in 2007 to 69% in 2013.
• The share of A8 RMW that is highly educated increased from 36% in 2007 to 47% in 2013.