Cultural Enrichment and Talent Diversity. The Positive Impact of Immigration on UK Society

Immigration has long been a controversial subject in the UK, with reducing immigration being on the agenda for many British people. Concern has intensified among pro-immigration activists with the results of the UK 2024 General Election, during which the anti-immigration Reform UK party received over 4 million votes. However, immigration has brought a range of fantastic benefits to British society, and there is an opportunity for immigrants to continue coming to the UK to prove the invaluable contribution they can make. The following article makes a case for immigration in the UK, particularly in terms of how it can culturally enrich the country, improve the labor market, and strengthen the economy.

There are several different ways that you can immigrate to the UK to help contribute to the culturally rich, diverse and prosperous society. However, the best if you are in a relationship with a UK citizen is the Civil Partnership visa UK.

The Economy

The most objective metric to gauge the positive impact of immigration on British society is the economy, asking whether immigrants improve and strengthen the economic well-being of the country. The answer is a resounding ‘yes’ with the 15% of immigrants that come to work paying billions in taxes. Meanwhile, the vast numbers that come to the UK to study can only work 20 hours a week but contribute to the British economy in other ways, such as through their student fees, which prop up our education sector.

HMRC data for the tax year 2018-2019 put this benefit in more concrete terms. They found that EEA nationals paid £22.4 billion more in national insurance and tax payments than they received in available benefits. Meanwhile, non-EEA nationals paid £20 billion more than they received from the government. This brings the positive economic impact of immigration up to £42.4 billion. A study by Oxford Economics broke down these numbers further to find that EEA migrants make a positive contribution of £2,300 higher per person than the average British citizen, while non-EEA migrants was £800 lower than the average British citizen.

The Labour Market

One of the most commonly levelled criticisms of immigration in the UK is that it harms the British labour market by increasing the supply of cheap labour, reducing wages and increasing unemployment among British citizens. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the UK the “cheap labour economy of the European Union” and has continued to make similar comments in the wake of BREXIT.

Several studies have been conducted in recent years to ascertain if such criticisms are legitimate. The University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory collated the findings from these studies and noted that migration has a clear positive impact on high-wage workers, while low-wage workers are more likely to lose out. However, they describe the scale of this impact as ‘small’. This is because the number of jobs available in a community is not fixed. Rather, migrants are as likely to stimulate the growth of jobs available as they are to take up a job that a British citizen would otherwise have obtained.

Talent Diversity

Like all labour markets, Britain suffers from skills shortages, particularly in the most highly skilled and valuable roles. The 5.8 million small businesses in the country face this struggle particularly acutely, with skills shortages often stunting their productivity. The Federation of Small Businesses found that 38% of small businesses struggle to find the right workers for their vacancies each year. Migrant workers offer a chance to look outside what is available domestically and find the best possible workers for the role in question.

Meanwhile, even if roles can be theoretically filled domestically, migrant workers can provide unique opportunities for UK businesses. While the British labour market is mainly monoglot, skilled migrant workers are more likely to have language skills and an invaluable knowledge of foreign markets and cultures.

Replacing the Tier 2 visa, the UK government has made it easier for high-value workers to come to the UK with the Skilled Worker visa. The government considers there to be around 70,000 skilled workers currently in the UK. Requiring sponsorship from an employer, this visa allows migrant workers to come to the UK for employment within specifically defined eligible occupations. Applicants must have a job offer for such a role that pays at the market rate for the industry.

Cultural Enrichment

A 2018 report by Hope not Hate and British Future – The National Conversation on Immigration – found that the economic benefits of immigration are widely appreciated. 65% felt that migrants brought skills to the economy and improved public services. However, the extent to which immigration improves British culture is more hotly contested, with 59% believing immigration has brought cultural enrichment.

For centuries, British culture has been guided by immigration. This began in the 18th century with the growth of black communities in coastal cities, which were absorbed into British culture after the abolition of slavery in 1833. Scores more communities have made Britain their home since, assimilating into British culture and enriching it with their presence. British people can now enjoy cuisine, music, festivals, and art from all over the world. The most recent example of a community that has brought new cultural richness to the UK has been the 174,000 Ukrainian refugees who have moved to the UK, often welcomed into British people’s homes.

The Future of Immigration in Britain

The immigration debate in Britain is currently on a knife edge. The benefits of immigration are becoming increasingly clear in the wake of BREXIT as British companies look further afield to access the best talent in the world. However, populist movements such as the Reform UK party are continuing to expand and making attempts to limit the number of those able to come to the UK legally.

There is nothing certain in this debate, but immigrants can make the case for their presence in the UK by continuing to contribute to the British economy and culture. Meanwhile, business leaders have a part to play in continuing to assert how migrant workers make their workforce more productive, diverse, and open the doors to new opportunities.