By Adbulmalik Lawal-
Recent political discussions about immigration have been highly charged. This comes as polls reveal public concern about the issue is near a record high. The latest UK immigration figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a different trend. They indicate a significant drop in net migration from a previous record peak.
The ONS figures reveal that net migration has typically fluctuated between 200,000 and 300,000 people annually since 2011. Following Brexit and the new post-Brexit immigration system, a large increase in immigrants, nicknamed the “Boriswave,” occurred. However, recent data shows that this wave is now subsiding. Net migration fell by half in 2024. Furthermore, new rule changes mean experts expect it to fall even more. A large part of this decline is because of a decrease in health and care visas. Fewer people are also entering the country through the now-closed Afghan humanitarian scheme or escaping the war in Ukraine. Student visa applications have also fallen, a 1.5% decrease in August compared to 2024, and an 18% drop from the same month in 2023.
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Understanding the UK Immigration Figures and Worker Claims
Reform leader Nigel Farage recently claimed millions of immigrants are not working and are costing the country a fortune. The available evidence, however, complicates his version of events. Most asylum seekers are not permitted to work until authorities have accepted their application. Asylum seekers make up a small fraction of total immigration, less than 5% of visas granted in 2025.
The largest group of people entering the UK consists of students, about 47% including their dependents. Students are not expected to work. They contribute to the economy by paying fees for their degrees. They either leave the UK after their studies or transition into paid work. Workers make up the second-largest group at 20%, with their dependents at 11%.
Data on immigrant earnings is currently patchy. Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said employment rates among recent migrants are “not far off” those of existing residents. A Home Office report linked some visa types to PAYE earnings, with most recording earnings. Many dependents also work. The report found 67% of health and care worker dependents, 45% of skilled worker dependents, and 25% of senior or specialist visa dependents earned money.
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So, will recent migrants cost the UK a fortune, as Farage claims? The available data does not conclusively say. However, given that most new arrivals do not go through the school system and also pay for their NHS treatment, they are unlikely to cost more than existing residents.
For the latest data, visit the Office for National Statistics website.
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