Post-Brexit Migration Policy recommendations published

There is no way to change the migration system without creating winners and losers. But we believe the UK should focus on enabling higher-skilled migration coupled with a more restrictive policy on lower-skilled migration in the design of its post-Brexit system.

Commissioned by the government and published on Tuesday, the report concluded that free movement from the EU should end after Brexit.

This is in essence the main conclusion of the recommendations of a report about Post-Brexit Migration, by the Migration Advisory Committee to the British government.

If the UK is in a position where it is deciding the main features of its immigration policy our recommendation is that there should be a less restrictive regime for higher-skilled workers than for lower-skilled workers in a system where there is no preference for EEA over non-EEA workers. Higher-skilled workers tend to have higher earnings so make a more positive contribution to the public finances. The estimated labour market impacts, though small, also suggest that higher-skilled workers are of greater benefit as do any impacts on productivity and innovation. A shift towards higher skilled migration aligns with the Government’s industrial strategy published last year.

The recommendations relate only to work migration though leaving the EU also requires consideration of family and student migration, adds the report.

Full Report can be accessed here

The British government said it will “carefully consider” a report on post-Brexit immigration that recommended the UK not give preferential treatment to citizens from the European Union.

Concerns about immigration were a strong motivating factor in the 2016 Brexit vote and British Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to prevent freedom of movement from the EU once Britain leaves.