The number of foreign workers and students moving to the United Kingdom has significantly decreased by nearly 30% this year, according to new figures from the Home Office.
This drop, from 121,000 to 85,200 in the first five months of the year, aligns with both the Conservative and Labour parties’ promises to reduce net migration. \
This marks the largest decline since the pandemic, with skilled workers, students, and health and care visa holders comprising the majority of migration to the UK.
Last year, these groups and their dependents accounted for a total of 1.13 million visas issued.
The reduction is largely attributed to government measures, including restrictions on foreign workers and students bringing dependents, increased salary thresholds for skilled workers, and curbs on shortage occupation visa schemes.
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The latest data indicates that net migration stands at 685,000 for the year ending December 2023, down from a record high of 764,000 the previous year.
The Conservative government aims to reduce immigration by 300,000, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promising to halve migration and further reduce it if re-elected.
Labour also pledges to reduce net migration, although it has not specified a target or timeline.
Their manifesto proposes linking training to immigration, requiring sectors applying for foreign worker visas to first train British citizens.
Home Secretary James Cleverly claimed responsibility for the decline, attributing it to actions taken to drive down legal migration.
He noted a 30% drop in visa applications across key routes and criticized Labour for opposing these actions.
The figures show a significant reduction in visa applications across various categories, including a 25.4% overall decrease in visas for foreign workers, students, and their dependents.
Notably, the number of dependents brought in by students fell by nearly 80%, and health and care worker visa applications decreased by 75.6%.
This development comes ahead of the July 4 election, with immigration policy being a central issue in the campaigns of both major parties.
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