Migration Review 2012/13

Article

This briefing reviews the migration trends and policy changes in 2012 and looks forward to possible developments in 2013. Next year will be a crucial one for the government because they will be more than halfway through the parliament during which they has pledged to reduce net immigration to the 'tens of thousands'.

In 2013, we expect:

  • Further significant falls in non-EU student immigration
  • Continued steady declines in non-EU immigration for work and family reasons
  • A modest increase in immigration from the EU
  • A small increase in asylum claims
  • Rising net emigration by UK nationals, and modest increases in emigration by non-EU nationals

The briefing shows that net migration will fall to around 140,000 next year, following a fall of over 25% in the year to March 2012. But net migration will begin to rise again in 2014, although final figures for that year will not be available until after the 2015 General Election.

Related items

  1. Two male construction workers in high vis jackets laughing together in a van

    Mission-driven industrial relations: The case for fair pay agreements

    How fair pay agreements could support the government’s mission-based approach by resolving labour market challenges.

  2. Women in Scotland: the gendered impact of care on financial stability and well-being

    Women in Scotland are far likelier than men to take on childcare and other caring responsibilities, which puts them at an economic disadvantage. 
  3. One person handing a blue UK passport to another

    Citizenship: A race to the bottom?

    The ability to move from temporary immigration status to settlement, and ultimately to citizenship, is the cornerstone of a fair and functional immigration system.