This week, economic optimism tied to mass migration faced a setback as new government figures revealed that the number of unemployed individuals in the UK reached a high, with approximately 1.3 million migrants relying on welfare support.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) shows that immigrants made up over one in five (21.5%) of all unemployed individuals in the UK in the first quarter of the year. This figure translates to 345,600 unemployed foreign nationals, which later decreased to about 333,000 between April and June, but still represented a staggering 2.7 times the rates recorded since 1997.
Further unraveling the narrative around migration’s economic benefits, the Ministry of Labor and Pensions reported that, as of July, around 1.298 million immigrants were claiming welfare through Universal Credit, a system intended for workers or those with low incomes.
Breaking it down, 524,598 employed migrants received universal credit, while 759,375 claimed out-of-work benefits. This marks an increase of 370,539 from 2020, equating to a 40% rise, according to GB News.
Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Immigration Management, commented on the data release, stating, “It was promised that large-scale migration would bring vast prosperity to the UK. Instead, taxpayers are left to support 1.3 million foreign welfare claimants.” He went on to emphasize that the costs associated with this migration are becoming increasingly evident.
Moreover, the impact on public services like the National Health Service (NHS) indicates that the financial burden from large-scale migration surpasses the costs of universal credit payments significantly.
According to calculations from the Office for Budget Responsibility, low-skilled immigrants tend to drain public finances more than they contribute in taxes. The OBR found that, on average, low-skilled immigrants cost the government around £151,000 ($200,000) by age 66, and this figure can climb to about £500,000 ($660,000) by age 80.
This contrasts sharply with the average UK citizen, who is typically a net contributor of £280,000 ($370,000) by age 66 and continues to contribute into their 80s.
The failure of migration to deliver promised economic gains, combined with the increasing strain on the welfare state and rising concerns about social cohesion and crime, has led to a noticeable shift in public opinion regarding immigration policies. A recent YouGov survey indicated that many Britons now support deportation campaigns aimed at recent arrivals.
Despite tough rhetoric from the left-leaning government, there appears to be little willingness in Westminster to address immigration at the level the public desires.
