While anti-immigration rhetoric often perpetuates migrants as a strain on the economy, the truth is quite the opposite
Some people believe that rising immigration means a bigger bill for the British tax-payer. But is this really the case?
Anti-immigration rhetoric, perpetuated by the likes of former US President Donald Trump, has left many with a warped perception of the realities of immigration.
In the age of fake news, it's important to sift through the misinformation, particularly about immigration and migrants.
The European Union referendum especially highlighted this as a problem. It is thought that one of the main reasons that the UK voted to leave the European Union was because of the claim that £350 million a week was being sent to the EU.
"Nearly 90 percent of people who thought immigration was bad for the economy voted to leave"
Surveys after the referendum also found that the majority of those who voted to leave did so because of immigration. In fact, nearly 90 percent of people who thought immigration was bad for the economy voted to leave.
But the fact is, in most countries, immigration results in a positive outcome for the economy.
Here are some facts:
Migrants are usually over 18. This means an increase in the number of people able to work in the UK.
Migrants often fill vacant jobs. For example, migrant nurses and doctors form over 13% of the NHS.
More immigration means more people spending money in the economy and a bigger demand for workers.
More workers in the UK mean more people paying tax.
Of course, if a country is in a recession and there is high unemployment, migrants may be the ones that struggle to find jobs because of a range of barriers, including language and qualifications.
This can lead to a strain on the amount of affordable housing, so it shouldn’t be forgotten that low-income households may suffer as a result.
However, the fact that the UK is facing a housing crisis and rising unemployment rates is not a result of rising immigration.
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