The United Kingdom has seen a sharp decline of nearly 30 percent in the number of foreign workers and students arriving this year, according to newly released figures from the Home Office.
The total fell from 121,000 to 85,200 in the first five months of the year, marking the largest drop since the pandemic began. Skilled workers, students, and health and care visa holders constituted the majority of migrants to the UK, with these groups and their dependents receiving a combined 1.13 million visas last year.
The decline is largely attributed to government measures such as restrictions on bringing dependents, higher salary requirements for skilled workers, and limitations on shortage occupation visas, as reported by The Telegraph.
Net migration for the year ending December 2023 stands at 685,000, down from a peak of 764,000 the previous year.
The Conservative government aims to reduce immigration by 300,000, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promising further reductions if re-elected.
Meanwhile, Labour’s manifesto also pledges to decrease net migration without specifying targets or timelines, proposing to link training to immigration for sectors applying for foreign worker visas.
Home Secretary James Cleverly credited government actions for the decline, emphasizing his efforts to reduce legal migration.
Migration Advisory Committee chairman Prof Brian Bell expressed optimism about achieving pre-pandemic migration levels by the year’s end.
Overall, visa applications across categories have significantly dropped, including a 25.4 percent decrease in visas for foreign workers, students, and their dependents.
This trend occurs amidst the upcoming July 4 election, where immigration policies are pivotal in both major parties’ campaigns.
