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briefing 12 Mar 2024

English language use and proficiency of migrants in the UK

This briefing examines data on how well different groups of migrants living in England and Wales speak English, and the relationship between English language proficiency and activity in the labour market.

briefing 27 Feb 2024

Migrant Settlement in the UK

This briefing examines settlement or indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is when a migrant is granted the right to live indefinitely in the UK.

briefing 23 Feb 2024

Who Counts as a Migrant? Definitions and their Consequences

Considers the different ways in which one can understand who counts as a migrant in the UK.

briefing 14 Feb 2024

Deportation, removal, and voluntary departure from the UK

This briefing examines the deportation and voluntary departure of irregular migrants and other foreign citizens from the UK.

briefing 26 Jan 2024

Migrants in the UK Labour Market: An Overview

This briefing provides an overview of data on migrants’ labour market integration and the jobs they do in the UK labour market.

briefing 24 Jan 2024

Student Migration to the UK

This briefing answers key questions about the characteristics and numbers of students who come to the UK.

briefing 22 Jan 2024

Net migration to the UK

This briefing covers the scale of immigration and net migration in the UK since the early 2000s and under the post-Brexit immigration system.

briefing 15 Dec 2023

Citizenship and naturalisation for migrants in the UK

This briefing looks at citizenship and naturalisation among migrants in the UK. It provides data on how many migrants become UK citizens and how this varies for different migrant groups, as well as the factors that affect naturalisation.

briefing 20 Nov 2023

EU Migration to and from the UK

This briefing provides key statistics on EU migrants and migration in the UK.

briefing 15 Nov 2023

Deprivation and the no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition

This briefing examines the UK’s ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) condition, which applies to people on temporary immigration statuses, and prevents access – in most cases – to state-funded welfare.

briefing 16 Oct 2023

Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in the UK

This briefing examines the migration of Afghan asylum seekers and refugees to the UK.

briefing 06 Oct 2023

Family Migration to the UK

This briefing examines the migration of family members to the UK.

briefing 29 Sep 2023

Work visas and migrant workers in the UK

This briefing examines labour migration and work visas in the UK immigration system, before and after the implementation of the post-Brexit immigration system.

briefing 28 Sep 2023

UK Public Opinion toward Immigration: Overall Attitudes and Level of Concern

This briefing provides an overview of attitudes toward immigration in Britain.

briefing 08 Aug 2023

Ukrainian migration to the UK

This briefing examines Ukrainian migration to the UK, before and after the Russian invasion in 2022.

briefing 21 Jul 2023

People crossing the English Channel in small boats

This briefing examines the phenomenon of people crossing the English Channel in small boats.

briefing 27 Jun 2023

Migration and the health and care workforce

This Evidence Paper examines the role of migration and the impacts of immigration policy on the UK’s health and care workforce.

briefing 05 Apr 2023

The UK’s asylum backlog

This briefing note examines what we know about the UK’s asylum backlog, its causes, and its consequences.

briefing 24 Mar 2023

The Labour Market Effects of Immigration

Discusses the impacts of immigration on the labour market in the UK, focusing on wages and employment.

briefing 27 Feb 2023

The Impact of Migration on UK Population Growth

This briefing examines the impact of migration on recent and future UK demographic trends.

briefing 02 Nov 2022

Immigration Detention in the UK

Provides an overview of immigration detention in the UK.

briefing 02 Sep 2022

Migrants and Housing in the UK

Reviews the evidence on migration and housing in the UK.

briefing 19 Aug 2022

Asylum and refugee resettlement in the UK

Sets out key facts and figures relating to the number of asylum seekers applying to stay in the UK.

briefing 02 Aug 2022

Migrants in the UK: An Overview

This briefing provides an overview of the UK’s foreign-born population.

briefing 22 Jul 2022

Children of migrants in the UK

This briefing examines what we know about children of migrants who are under age 18 living in the UK.

briefing 01 Apr 2022

Public attitudes to labour migrants during the pandemic: localised findings

This is the third briefing in a study that investigated public attitudes to labour migrants in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.

briefing 01 Apr 2022

Public attitudes to labour migrants in the pandemic: dynamics during 2021

This is the fourth briefing of a study that investigated public attitudes to labour migrants in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on tracking preferences over time.

briefing 30 Mar 2022

The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in the UK

This briefing provides an overview of research regarding the impact of immigration on government finances in the UK.

briefing 24 Mar 2022

Where do migrants live in the UK?

This briefing looks at the distribution of migrants across UK nations, regions and local authorities within the UK, providing data by country of birth, nationality and reason for migration.

briefing 02 Dec 2021

The migration intentions of British National (Overseas) status holders in Hong Kong

This briefing presents key findings from the first round of a survey conducted in Hong Kong in Feb-Apr 2021 about the migration intentions of BNO status holders in Hong Kong.

briefing 30 Jul 2021

Public attitudes to labour migrants in the pandemic: occupations and nationality

This is the first briefing of a study investigating public attitudes to labour migrants in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.

briefing 30 Jul 2021

Public attitudes to labour migrants in the pandemic: health and welfare

This is the second briefing of a study investigating public attitudes to labour migrants in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this briefing is on the public support for migrants’ access to health and welfare programmes.

briefing 27 Jul 2021

Migrants on ten-year routes to settlement in the UK

This briefing looks at migrants whose immigration status puts them on a ten-year route to settlement in the UK, rather than the usual five.

briefing 16 Dec 2020

Permanent or Temporary: How Long do Migrants stay in the UK?

This briefing explains what we know about how long migrants stay in the UK after arrival.

briefing 11 Sep 2020

Irregular migration in the UK

This briefing examines irregular migration – also called ‘illegal immigration’ – in the UK, including the difficulties in defining and measuring it, and evidence on its nature and scale.

briefing 31 Aug 2020

The health of migrants in the UK

This briefing examines health outcomes for migrants (defined as people who were born abroad) as well as the extent to which health problems impact their day-to-day activities or their jobs.

briefing 11 May 2020

Migrant Remittances to and from the UK

Describes remittance flows both to and from the UK.

briefing 30 Mar 2020

Who migrates to the UK and why?

This briefing explains immigration to the UK and reasons for it - including to work, to join family, to study and to seek asylum.

briefing 13 Dec 2019

Immigration, Diversity and Social Cohesion

Discusses the meaning, dimensions, measurement and determinants of social cohesion.

briefing 10 Apr 2019

Non-EU Family Migration to the UK

Examining the migration of non-EU family members to the UK

briefing 14 Jan 2019

Short Regional Profiles

briefing 13 Aug 2018

Short-Term Migration in the UK: A Discussion of the Issues and Existing Data

Explains the often confusing issue of how we define a short-term migrant.

briefing 03 Aug 2018

Naturalisation as a British Citizen: Concepts and Trends

Gives details about how many foreign nationals acquire British citizenship every year

briefing 03 Jul 2018

Non-European Migration to the UK: Family Unification & Dependents

Examines data on migrants whose basis for entry to the UK is through ties to a family member.

briefing 28 Jun 2018

Immigration by Category: Workers, Students, Family Members, Asylum Applicants

Examines immigration by category, distinguishing between European and non-European migrants.

briefing 14 Jun 2018

Non-European Labour Migration to the UK

Examines labour migration to the UK among people who are not from the European Economic Area (EEA).

briefing 11 Oct 2017

Determinants of Migration to the UK

Reviews the available evidence on the main determinants of migration to the UK since the early 1990s.

briefing 02 Oct 2017

Non-EU Higher Education Students: Impact on the UK Economy

Looks at evidence on the impact of international students in the UK’s higher education (HE) sector on the UK economy.

briefing 12 Oct 2016

Immigration Offences: Trends in Legislation and Criminal and Civil Enforcement

Analyses immigration offences in British immigration and asylum legislation, and trends in legislation and enforcement.

briefing 13 Jul 2016

Educational Outcomes Among Children with English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Examines data and evidence on school pupils in England with English as an additional language (EAL).

briefing 11 Feb 2016

Young Migrants in the UK Labour Market

Focuses on foreign-born young adults age 16 to 24.

briefing 30 Nov 2015

Demographics of Young Migrants in the UK

Provides an overview of young migrants in the UK and their demographic characteristics.

briefing 06 May 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – Why do International Migrants Come to the UK?

Looks at levels of migration, factors driving migration to the UK, and how the UK compares to other EU countries.

briefing 06 May 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – Impacts of Migration on Local Public Services

Discusses evidence on the characteristics and impacts of migration at the local level, focusing on the impacts on public services.

briefing 05 May 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – Migration and Welfare Benefits

Explains key questions and what we know about the extent to which migrants take up different categories of benefits.

briefing 16 Apr 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – Enforcement: Enforced Removals and Voluntary Departures of People Violating Immigration Law

Looks at enforcement actions to remove various categories of foreign nationals, including foreign national offenders.

briefing 16 Apr 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – Fiscal Impacts of Migration to the UK

Examines how migrants affect public finances in the UK.

briefing 13 Apr 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – UK Migration Policy since the 2010 General Election

Examines policy changes the government has introduced in an attempt to reduce net migration.

briefing 13 Apr 2015

Election 2015 Briefing – Immigration and Jobs: The Labour Market Effects of Immigration

Discusses the impacts of immigration on the labour market in the UK, focusing on wages and employment.

briefing 01 Sep 2014

Migration in Great Britain: Census Factsheet

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for Great Britain

briefing 19 Aug 2014

England: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for England and its constituent regions and local areas.

briefing 08 Aug 2014

Global International Migrant Stock: The UK in International Comparison

Provides an overview of the global stock of international migrants and compares the UK to other countries and regions.

briefing 26 Jun 2014

Northern Ireland: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for Northern Ireland and its constituent local government districts.

briefing 04 Apr 2014

Global International Migrant Stock: Scotland in International Comparison

Compares the stock of international migrants in Scotland to the UK and other countries.

briefing 11 Mar 2014

International Migration: The UK Compared with other OECD Countries

Compares international migration to and from the UK with migration to other OECD countries.

briefing 04 Mar 2014

Wales: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for Wales, and its constituent council areas.

briefing 10 Dec 2013

North West: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the North West, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 03 Dec 2013

Scotland: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for Scotland, and its constituent council areas.

briefing 26 Nov 2013

North East: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the North East, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 13 Nov 2013

Immigration and Crime: Evidence for the UK and Other Countries

Discusses the impact of immigration on crime, in the UK and international context.

briefing 14 Oct 2013

South West: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the South West, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 10 Oct 2013

South East: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the South East, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 18 Sep 2013

Migrants in Scotland: An Overview

Prrovides an overview of the numbers, population shares, geographic distribution and nationalities of migrants in Scotland.

briefing 18 Sep 2013

Geographical Distribution and Characteristics of International Emigration from Scotland

Focuses on emigrants leaving Scotland for overseas destinations.

briefing 18 Sep 2013

Geographical Distribution and Characteristics of International Migration Flows to Scotland

Focuses on immigrants coming to Scotland from overseas destinations.

briefing 18 Sep 2013

Long-Term International Migration Flows to and from Scotland

Provides an overview of Long Term International Migration (LTIM) in Scotland.

briefing 18 Sep 2013

Migrants in the Scottish Labour Market

Provides an overview of the characteristics and outcomes of migrants in the Scottish labour market.

briefing 09 Sep 2013

East of England: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the East of England, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 15 Aug 2013

West Midlands: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the West Midlands, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 04 Jul 2013

East Midlands: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for the East Midlands, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 12 Jun 2013

Yorkshire and the Humber: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for Yorkshire and the Humber, and its constituent districts and unitary authorities.

briefing 20 May 2013

London: Census Profile

Summarises key statistics from the 2011 Census for London and its boroughs.

briefing 19 Jun 2012

EU Migrants in other EU Countries: An Analysis of Bilateral Migrant Stocks

Provides an overview of the numbers of EU migrants in different EU countries.

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This Migration Observatory is kindly supported by the following organisations.

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