The average salary of migrants entering the UK has dropped by £10,000 in just two years, according to a new report, falling from £42,884 to £32,946.
Last week salary thresholds for those arriving in Britain were raised to £38,750 in a bid to crack down on exponential migration levels.
Yet because those working in the social care settings are exempt from the rule, critics have argued that the new visa system is ‘geared towards low-skilled migrants that cost the country more than it brings in’.
According to the Centre for Migration Studies, the number of visas handed to those working in ‘caring professional services’ has jumped from just 4.3 per cent in 2021 to 47.3 per cent last year.
Research from the think tanks reportedly reveals that 47.3 per cent of work visas are given to those within the sector with employees from abroad entering the country on a minimum salary of £20,960.
The average salary of migrants entering the UK has dropped by £10,000 in just two years, a new report has shown, falling from £42,884 to £32,946
Last week salary thresholds for those arriving in Britain were raised to £38,750 in a bid to crack down on exponential migration levels, however, care workers were exempt. File photo of a care worker
Meanwhile a quarter of migrants fell into the nursing and midwifery profession, on the average salary of £30,726, with the second largest group was for those in the IT and Telecomm professionals, where the average salary is £48,655.
MPs have argued that the new system will reduce net migration by 30,000 but others have argued its near pointless until social care workers are also included.
But Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, told the Sun: ‘Since 2019 the Conservative government have done nothing to take back control of Britain’s borders.
‘These findings show that their new visa system has actually made the problem far worse and is geared towards low-skilled migration that costs the country more than it brings in.
‘The new system that came into force on April 4 is a pure political gimmick that will do nothing to substantially cut the numbers, and the Home Secretary must surely know this.’
It comes after it was revealed in February that the number of UK visas handed to foreign workers and their family members soared to more than 600,000 last year.
According to the Centre for Migration Studies, the number of visas handed to those working in ‘caring professional services’ has jumped from just 4.3 per cent in 2021 to 47.3 per cent last year
Data released in February by the Home Office showed Britain granted 337,240 work visas in 2023, 26 per cent higher than in 2022, with the rise largely driven by those coming to the country to work in the care home sector
The Home Office showed Britain granted 337,240 work visas in 2023, 26 per cent higher than in 2022, with the rise largely driven by those coming to the country to work in the care home sector.
That follows figures released in November which showed annual net migration to the UK hit a record 745,000 in 2022 and has stayed high since.
Visas under the ‘Skilled Worker – Health and Care’ route almost doubled, Thursday’s data showed, rising by 91 per cent to 146,477 last year.
Many of these workers also brought dependants, with the health and care bracket accounting for 73 per cent of the 279,131 visas given to the family members of workers. This was an 80 per cent jump in numbers of dependents compared to 2022.
In total, visas handed to foreign workers and dependents together hit 616,000 last year.