Immigrants in the UK bring more to the state than they receive

The number of immigrants entering the UK has been high in recent years, but official research shows they are having a positive impact on the budget because they pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits.

A 2018 study by Oxford Economics concluded that “European migrants living in the UK contribute £2,300.” [cerca de 2.670 euros] contributes more to the public purse than the average adult each year, suggesting a net contribution of £78,000. [cerca de 81.000 euros] to the public treasury throughout his life in the United Kingdom.”

More recent UK government figures cited by the Migration Observatory show that in the 2018/19 tax year, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens paid £22.4 billion more in income tax and social security contributions than they received in tax credits and family benefits. Non-EEA (and non-Swiss) citizens paid £20 billion more than they received.

Rishi Sunak’s government also highlighted that skilled refugees contribute £1m to the UK economy every year in taxes and contributions.

An OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) study covering the period 2006 to 2018 found that in all the countries analysed, immigrants contribute more in taxes and contributions than governments spend on their social protection, health care and education. In the United Kingdom, the net budgetary contribution of foreigners was 1.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) during the period analysed.

According to official statistics, 1.2 million people immigrated to the UK in 2023. Around 11% of these people were seeking asylum, including 42,000 Ukrainian refugees and 10,000 refugees granted visas to join their families.

According to the latest estimates from the UK Statistics Office, in the year ending June 2023, 7% of people who migrated to the UK were British citizens, 11% were citizens of European Union (EU) countries and 82% were citizens of non-EU countries.

Figures for 2021 show that six million people living in the UK held the citizenship of another country, representing 9% of the population.

According to the latest OECD data, in 2022, 14.3% of the UK population was foreign-born. The employment rate of migrants was almost the same as that of locals: 75.5% of the active population was employed.

According to the Migration Observatory, in the first quarter of 2024, workers of foreign origin accounted for more than a fifth of the employed population (21%).

Studies of the impact of migrants on the budget show that the net contribution is generally positive, with values ​​varying depending on the origin of the migrants, particularly because those who bring more dependents have access to more support (such as family benefits).

Britain was rocked by a series of violent demonstrations called by far-right groups last week after three children, one of them Portuguese, were stabbed to death by a young British son of migrants in Southport, north-west England, authorities said.

The initial violence occurred amid partially debunked rumours about the profile of the suspect, who was misrepresented as a Muslim asylum seeker. In fact, the 17-year-old was born in Cardiff, Wales, and according to British media, his family is of Rwandan descent.

At least 378 people have been arrested since the unrest began a week ago, police said, with more likely to be made in the coming days. Footage broadcast live on Britain’s Sky News showed a tense standoff between far-right protesters and rival groups, separated by police on either side of the road.