Jump directly to the content
UK boarder
MIGRANTS CAUSE LOWER PAY

Soaring rise in immigration ‘has cost blue collar Brits £450’

Left-leaning think tank says number of migrants has forced workers to tighten belts

SKY-high immigration has cost blue collar Brits nearly £450 in wages since the credit crisis – a think tank claimed today.

And it revealed that slashing the number of foreigners allowed into the UK could hand home grown workers from plumbers to welders a £150 a year pay rise.

 High price ... immigration has cost blue collar Brits nearly £450 in wages since the credit crisis, a think tank has claimed
6
High price ... immigration has cost blue collar Brits nearly £450 in wages since the credit crisis, a think tank has claimedCredit: PA:Press Association

The left leaning Resolution Foundation claimed there WAS a direct link between the startling increase in cheap eastern European labour and low pay for millions of blue collar Brits.

It revealed that the migrant population in towns such as Mansfield, Corby and Barnsley had exploded by up to 400 per cent since 2004 when Labour threw open our borders.

Resolution said British workers in “skilled trades” could see a pay rise of 0.6 per cent – around £150 a year - if net migration was cut to below 100,000.

 Growth area ... the migrant population in towns such as Mansfield, Corby and Barnsley had exploded by up to 400 per cent since 2004
6
Growth area ... the migrant population in towns such as Mansfield, Corby and Barnsley had exploded by up to 400 per cent since 2004Credit: Alamy

It added that on average, skilled workers in low-paid jobs would have earned an extra £436 since 2009 if net migration had been zero as firms would have had to pay more to hire UK staff, Resolution added.

Brexit-backing MPs said the report proved why PM Theresa May had to speed up moves to tackle the migrant flood.

Labour ‘Out’ campaigner Frank Field told the Sun: “This is a welcome recognition that open borders have pushed down the pay of workers.

“We need to move to a points system to control entry and over time ensure we are providing an adequate labour force with the skills needed.”

 Turning point ... Frank Field told the Sun: “This is a welcome recognition that open borders have pushed down the pay of workers."
6
Turning point ... Frank Field told the Sun: “This is a welcome recognition that open borders have pushed down the pay of workers."Credit: PA:Press Association

Former Tory Whip Charlie Elphicke – the MP for Dover and Deal – said: “This report proves what Brexit backers have been arguing for months – there is a direct link between sky high migration and lower pay for hard working Brits.

“There should be no delay in taking back control of our borders.”

The report comes five months after former pro-EU campaigner Lord Stuart Rose was panned by No.10 for saying low-paid Brits would see their wages go up if the UK left the EU.

 Compelling ... Former Tory Whip Charlie Elphicke said: “This report proves there is a direct link between sky high migration and lower pay for hard working Brits."
6
Compelling ... Former Tory Whip Charlie Elphicke said: “This report proves there is a direct link between sky high migration and lower pay for hard working Brits."Credit: Getty Images

Resolution said that cutting migration would have little effect on overall pay levels in the UK.

But it admitted there would be a lift for Brits in skilled trades and basic cleaning, sales and security roles.

On average, workers in skilled trades earn £25,454 a year – meaning a 0.6 per cent increase would hand them an extra £152 a year.

Resolution Policy analyst Stephen Clarke warned that the effects of a Brexit on the wider economy were almost certain wipe out the increase.

But he admitted: “Increased migration has caused a slight drag on wages for some low-paid British workers.”

 Single market too far ... Migrants now make up a quarter of the population in Boston, Lincs, up from 6.9 per cent in 2004
6
Single market too far ... Migrants now make up a quarter of the population in Boston, Lincs, up from 6.9 per cent in 2004Credit: ©Stephen Daniels/DANPICS

The report separately laid bare just how much migration has changed the face of towns across the UK.

The migrant population of Mansfield has from 2.2 per cent to 10.8 per cent since 2004 – a four-fold increase - while West Lancashire has seen a 285 per cent rise and Maidstone a 273 per cent jump.

Migrants now make up a quarter of the population in Boston, Lincs, up from 6.9 per cent in 2004.

Overall, the share of migrants in the UK population has soared from 10 per cent in 2004 to 16 per cent.

Official figures in June showed that four in five jobs in the previous 12 months had gone to foreign-born nationals.

Andrew Green, Migration Watch chair, said: “This is a clear admission that massive levels of immigration have held down the wages of those British workers who can least afford it.”

MIGRANT BOOM

 Numbers game ... has the UK's migrant population been putting pressure on British wages?
6
Numbers game ... has the UK's migrant population been putting pressure on British wages?Credit: PA

Increase in migrant share of population by local authority (2004-2016)

Mansfield 391%

NW Leicestershire 357%

West Lancashire 285%

Maidstone 273%

Boston 255%

Taunton Deane 238%

Corby 237%

Barnsley 218%

Scarborough 213%

South Northants 208%

Source: Resolution Foundation

Topics