Latest ONS migration statistics report shows net migration to the UK was 243,000 for year to March 2014, up from 175,000
As widely reported by news media last week, net migration to the UK was 243,000 in the year ending March 2014, up from 175,000 in the year ending March 2013.
The figures come from the latest migration statistics quarterly report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which you can read here.
The report's key findings were:
• Net long-term migration to the UK was estimated to be 243,000 in the year ending March 2014, a statistically significant increase from 175,000 in the previous 12 months.
• While net migration has increased since the most recent low of 154,000 in the year ending September 2012, it remains below the peak of 320,000 in the year ending June 2005.
• 560,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year ending March 2014, a statistically significant increase from 492,000 in the previous 12 months. Two-thirds of the increase is accounted for by immigration of EU citizens (up 44,000 to 214,000).
• An estimated 316,000 people emigrated from the UK in the year ending March 2014. Long-term emigration has been relatively stable since 2010.
• 28,000 EU2 (Romanian and Bulgarian) citizens immigrated to the UK in the year ending March 2014, a statistically significant increase from 12,000 in the previous 12 months.
• There was a statistically significant increase in immigration for work (up 38,000 to 228,000), driven by increases for EU15 and EU2 citizens. Estimated employment of EU citizens was 17% higher in April to June 2014, compared to the same quarter in 2013.
• Immigration for study remained stable (177,000) in the year ending March 2014. Study visas granted in year ending June 2014 rose 7%, reflecting higher levels of university-sponsored applications (applications for other education sectors fell).
• 265,000 non-EU citizens immigrated to the UK in the year ending March 2014. This ends a steady decline since the recent peak of 334,000 in 2011.
• Work and study visas granted rose 10% (+14,799) and 7% (+13,885) respectively in the year ending June 2014, compared to the previous year, following a decline since 2011. The increase in work visas was largely accounted for by skilled work (+11,744).
• There were 23,479 asylum applications (main applicants) in the year ending June 2014, similar to the previous 12 months (23,523), but low relative to the 2002 peak (84,132).
BBC News reported that Prime Minister David Cameron said his target of reducing net migration below 100,000 could still be achieved despite the increase.
While the Guardian said the 39 per cent increase in net migration left the Government's 100,000 target in "tatters," the Home Office said in a statement that "non-EU migration is at its lowest levels since the 1990s which demonstrates that government reforms to curb abuse in the student, family and work routes are having an impact."
The Home Office highlighted that the figures show that net migration has fallen by a quarter since the peak in 2005 (from 320,000 to 243,000), however, no mention was made of the increase over 2013.