Potential impacts of skills-based immigration policies in London

The Government recently set out plans for a ‘skills-based’ immigration system post-Brexit. To inform debate, GLA Economics has produced two Current Issues Notes aimed at understanding which areas of London’s labour market are likely to be most affected by the proposals. Drawing on a wide range of published data sources, they aim to shed light on the following questions:

• Current Issues Note 58: Which occupations may be most affected by the new £30,000 minimum salary and RQF3+ skills threshold proposals? Who works in these roles? How does the list of affected occupations change as the salary threshold is reduced towards £21,000?
• Current Issues Note 59: In which occupations is the greatest disruption most likely from the proposed £30,000 minimum salary and RQF3+ skills threshold proposals?

Current Issues Note 59 builds on the first part of Current Issues Note 58 by considering (i) the economic or social value of different occupations, (ii) the recent reliance on EEA workers and (iii) the ability of occupations to adjust to labour supply shortages. It therefore replicates at a London level economic analysis carried out by the Home Office on the Government’s proposals. An overview of the approach and key findings from both notes is also provided in the summary report.

Supporting data that sits behind this work is available to download from the London Datastore.

Summary of the two Current Issues Notes 58 and 59

Potential impacts of immigration policies based on skills and salary thresholds in London: Threshold analysis

Potential impacts of immigration policies based on skills and salary thresholds in London: Occupational analysis