UK government launches plan to reduce reliance on immigration for labour market

Called “Skills England”, the plan delivers on one of the Labour Party’s campaign promises.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday 22 July the launch of an agency to improve training to better meet the needs of the labour market and to be less dependent on immigration. The announcement of “Skills England” thus gives substance to one of the Labour Party’s campaign promises.

The agency, which will bring together central and local authorities, businesses, training organisations and trade unions, will be set up in stages over the next nine to 12 months, according to the government. The construction and health sectors are particularly targeted.

“Far too often”young British people “did not have access to good opportunities or training” which created a “over-dependence of our economy on ever-increasing levels of immigration”, Keir Starmer said from the Farnborough Airshow, held southwest of London.

“We will identify current and future skills gaps” in relation to the needs of the labour market, “We will put in place plans to address this and reduce our long-term dependence on foreign workers.”he said.

Between 2017 and 2022, labor shortages doubled to more than 500,000 positions, now representing 36% of vacancies, according to the government.

Despite promises from successive governments, immigration, whether legal or illegal, has reached a record level in recent years. Net immigration amounted to 685,000 additional people in 2023, according to official statistics, the second highest level, after the record reached the previous year (764,000 people).

The new Labour leader insisted he was not criticising companies that employ foreign workers and did not intend to minimise “the contribution of immigration to our economy, our public services”. “Immigration is part of our national history, it always has been, it always will be,” he added.