UK Government to Publish Migration and Visa Reform Plan in Early 2025

Labour's strategy aims to reduce net migration through domestic workforce development, but experts warn results are uncertain.

The UK government will release a white paper in early 2025 outlining reforms to reduce migration and overhaul visa rules, focusing on workforce strategies in key sectors like IT, engineering, and social care.
Net migration has declined from a record high of 906,000 in 2023 to 728,000 in 2024, with further reductions expected due to tightened visa policies and enforcement measures.
Labour's plan emphasizes linking immigration policy to domestic skills development, requiring employers to train UK workers alongside hiring from abroad, but experts caution this may not substantially lower migration levels.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) highlighted that poor pay and working conditions, not just skills shortages, drive reliance on foreign workers in some sectors, complicating efforts to reduce immigration.
Skilled migrants on worker visas make significantly higher net fiscal contributions compared to UK-born adults, raising questions about the economic impact of reducing migration.