Low cost of migrants to services
Immigrants impose a disproportionately low cost on the UK’s education, health, social and care services, according to research published yesterday by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR). Their per capita consumption of public services is less than the population as a whole, particularly for those on student visas and economic migrants from outside the EU. Although the research did not cover their earnings, NIESR believes “the relative balance between what they cost and what they contribute is firmly weighted towards a significant positive net contribution, both to the economy, and to public finances.” In part, migrants use health and care services only lightly because of their typically young age profile, NIESR said, and although they may have children in, or bring children to, the UK, migrants tend to come from English-speaking countries, limiting the costs created.