Population Change in the UK

IMMIGRATION and it's effects...

Because Emigration is falling while Immigration is increasing the UK's net migration is rising.

Positive Attitude

Negative Attitude

-Immigrants create jobs eg Polish food shops -Is earning capacity the only way we measure an individual’s contribution to society? -Less likely to claim state benefits -Work harder because they have to We are all immigrants originally -Why should it be easier to marry someone from Poland than from Pakistan – Racist policy? -Often take low skilled and low paid jobs that established population might not want eg cleaner

-Use medical resources -Too many immigrants for jobs -Councils have to find more housing etc

Some proposed plans for immigration:

1. Limiting skilled workers's stay to 5 yrs would damage the UK economically - 50,000 fewer skilled migrants cost every person £44 extra over 5 years
2. Fewer visas to students who are the largest group of non-EU migrants, but £8.5 billion is generated in fees
3. Only Husbands or Wives earning £18,200 - a policy for the wealthy

Social Benefits of Migrants: 

• Increases understanding of other cultures
• Influx of new or revitalized providers of local services

Economic Benefits:

• Growth in ethnic retailing eg Curry mile in Manchester
• Tend to take the less desirable jobs
• Fill the skills gap that exists in many host countries with qualified migrants
• Costs of retirement transferred back to the source country
• Host country gains skilled labour at reduced cost

Social Costs:

• Entrenchment of attitudes which may lead to fundamentalism
• Groups of segregated ethnic groups are created and dominate local schools
• Male Dominance reasserted especially in countries where women have low status like the Persian Gulf States
• Racist attitudes which may lead to civil unrest and extremism
• aspects of cultural identity is lost especially amongst second generation migrants
• call for controls on immigration

Economic Costs:

• Cost of educating migrants children
• Much of the money goes back to the country of origin including pension payments
• Increased numbers of people puts pressure on resources like health services and education
• Some industries like construction over depend on migrant labour