Recent data from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) indicates a significant increase in employment among Indian and Nigerian nationals in the UK from 2019 to 2023. The data, released following a Freedom of Information request by MP Neil O’Brien, shows that these non-EU nationals now occupy more job positions than UK nationals.
According to newly released data from the HMRC, Indian and Nigerian nationals have experienced the most significant employment growth in the UK between 2019 and 2023. The figures reveal that non-EU nationals filled 1.465 million of the 1.481 million additional jobs created during this period, with Indians and Nigerians seeing the largest increases.
Indian nationals saw an increase of approximately 488,000 jobs, while Nigerian nationals saw an increase of around 279,000. In comparison, UK nationals experienced a rise of only 257,000 jobs. The data highlights a 69% increase in employment among non-EU nationals, while EU nationals saw a 10% decrease in job numbers.
This shift follows the introduction of the UK’s post-Brexit migration system in January 2021, which has seen a substantial rise in non-EU workers filling roles previously held by EU nationals. The data also notes that while employment has increased for non-EU workers, their earnings have generally declined compared to their UK counterparts.
Neil O’Brien, the MP who requested the data, described the findings as indicative of “extraordinary changes” in the UK’s employment landscape. He has called for a “rebooting” of the immigration system to better address the needs of the economy and ensure that migrants fill higher-skilled, higher-paying roles.
Economist Ben Brindle from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory suggested that non-EU migrants are increasingly filling roles that were previously occupied by EU workers. He noted that sectors such as hospitality and manufacturing are seeing a shift in employment patterns due to the new migration policies.
The data underscores the growing role of non-EU nationals in the UK’s workforce and highlights the need for ongoing adjustments to the immigration system to balance economic and social impacts.