A new report has revealed that only one in five new jobs created in Britain over the past decade went to British nationals, reigniting the debate over whether immigration rules should be tightened to give British workers a better chance.
Analysis by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) found that around 3.7 million additional jobs were recorded through PAYE between 2014 and the end of 2025. Of these, just 734,000 went to British nationals, compared with approximately 2.5 million taken by non-EU nationals and 408,000 by EU nationals.
Report led by Sir Iain Duncan Smith
The report, led by former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, argues that successive governments have relied too heavily on overseas workers instead of tackling domestic unemployment and helping more people into work. It also highlights a rise in the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits since 2020.
The findings have reignited the debate over immigration, wages and whether employers should be encouraged to recruit more people already living in Britain.
Arguments for and against tighter rules
Supporters of tighter rules could argue that employers have become too dependent on overseas labour, weakening incentives to train British workers and potentially putting pressure on wages in some sectors. They may also argue that reducing recruitment from abroad would encourage businesses to invest in skills and apprenticeships.
However, opponents could point out that migrant workers fill important roles across the economy, including in health and social care, hospitality and other industries. They could argue that restricting access to overseas workers risks leaving vacancies unfilled, adding to costs for businesses and putting pressure on public services.
Government response
The Government says it is reducing reliance on overseas labour, tightening routes for lower-skilled migration and taking steps to help more British people into employment. But the latest figures raise questions about whether enough is being done to ensure that people in Britain can access the jobs being created.
