Immigration and the labour market: theory, evidence, and policy

With the current economic downturn leading to questions over the value of economic migration, this report examines labor-market conditions in the United Kingdom. While there is consensus among economic researchers that immigration has only a small impact on the average wages of all workers, the report suggests that policymakers cannot ignore immigrants’ role in the labor market. Interventions to assist low-skilled workers, integration policies, and employer-sponsored training are essential tools to mitigate real and perceived effects of immigration.