Recent statistics reveal a significant surge in permanent migration to the United Kingdom, with numbers increasing by over 50% in just one year. According to an assessment by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the UK now ranks second, only after the United States, for the highest influx of permanent migrants among high-income countries. The data indicates that the arrivals rose from 488,400 in 2022 to 746,900 in 2023, marking a colossal 52.9% increase. Notably, these figures are also nearly double those of 2019, the year preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The OECD categorizes permanent migrants as those likely to settle in their hosting country long-term. Notably, the report specifies that it does not include Ukrainian refugees or students in this classification. However, there have been instances where fraudulent student visas have been exploited, creating a backdoor to residency. A critical aspect highlighted by the report is that family migration has emerged as the dominant source of permanent arrivals, accounting for more than double the number connected to labor migration for employment purposes.
While the United Kingdom saw unprecedented growth in migrant arrivals during this period, other OECD nations also recorded increases, albeit at significantly lower rates. For example, the United States experienced a 13.4% rise, and Germany’s left-leaning coalition only saw a 3.5% growth in permanent migration. The collective data indicates that all OECD members witnessed a 10% increase in permanent-type migration in 2023 compared to the previous year, contributing to what has been termed a “record year” in terms of migration.
Despite its smaller size, the UK managed to accommodate approximately 746,900 permanent migrants in 2023, representing 2.5% of the United States’ landmass and 20% of its population. This achievement occurs against a backdrop of stagnant economic growth in the UK, with GDP figures revealing a mere 0.1% growth in the third quarter of 2024. This juxtaposition raises questions about the traditional narrative that associates mass migration with economic benefits, suggesting that a reevaluation of this assumption is necessary.
Under the last Conservative government, there was a persistent rhetoric around tough border control; however, practical governance decisions rarely matched this stance. Economic arguments often overshadowed concerns about migration levels, leading to what some critics argue was a tacit endorsement of open borders amid fears of economic collapse. This approach has been critically challenged by prominent figures, including Nigel Farage, who suggested through analyses that record migration has not equated to increased prosperity for the general populace.
Farage pointed out a troubling trend: in six of the last eight quarters—when legal migration levels were at their highest—GDP per capita fell. This observation emphasizes the notion that mass immigration can have adverse effects on economic well-being for many, particularly those outside the corporate sphere. Ultimately, this scenario has sparked a broader debate about the implications of high migration levels on both the economy and societal issues, suggesting a need for policymakers to reassess migration strategies in light of both economic indicators and public sentiment.