UK Migration falls
by 106,000

30 November 2017

Today, the Office for National Statistics released the latest UK migration figures for the period of June – September 2017. These statistics are the first clear picture of migration since the EU referendum in June 2016. All figures shown here are the long-term* estimates for the year ending September 2017 and are compared to the same period in 2016 unless stated otherwise.

Here, we highlight some of the headlines from the latest figures.

Net migration:
A net total of 230,000 people are estimated to have immigrated to the UK in 2017, which is a drop of 106,000 from the previous year. Over three-quarters of the decrease in net migration can be accounted for by EU citizens. Immigration was estimated to be 572,000, the lowest estimate recorded since YE March 2014, whilst emigration was understood to be 342,000.

Emigration:
Around 342,000 people emigrated from the UK. This is 26,000 more than during the previous year. The overall rise in EU emigration to 123,000 in YE June 2017 was the highest level since YE December 2008.

Work:
261,000 people immigrated to the UK for work purposes, making it the most popular reason for immigration in 2017. However, this marks a significant decrease of 51,000 people immigrating to the UK for work compared to YE June 2016.

Study:
23,000 fewer people came to the UK for study purposes (141,000). Study remains the second most popular reason to come to the UK. Most were non-EU citizens (95,000 – down 18,000); however, the comparable number of long-term (1 year or more) study-related visas issued rose by 5% to 143,735.

EU migration:
A total of 107,000 EU nationals migrated to the UK, with EU15, EU8 and EU2 immigration estimated to be 55,000, 8,000 and 41,000 respectively. EU8 nationals made for the lowest immigration estimate since their countries joined the EU in 2004.

Non-EU migration:
Immigration to the UK of non-EU citizens was estimated to be 173,000. 23,000 lower than the previous year. 43% of non-EU migrants came to the UK to study.

Family:
The third most common reason for migrating to the UK is to accompany or join others. Of all long-term immigrants in 2017, 80,000 arrived in the UK for this reason.

Settlement:
60,106 people were granted permission to stay permanently in the UK during the YE September 2017. This is low relative to the peak in the year ending September 2010 (241,586).

Employers:
The number of sponsored visa applications for Skilled work was 54,697 in the YE September 2017 (main applicants, CoS used), 3% lower than year ending September 2016 (56,551). The Information and Communication accounted for 40% of all Skilled work-sponsored visa applications.

*Long-term migration is classed as any stay in the UK which is longer than 12 months

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