Nigerian nationals have secured a substantial portion of nearly 1.5 million new jobs created in the United Kingdom since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to recent government data.
The figures reveal that Nigerians and Indians have filled more roles in the UK job market than British citizens, highlighting the growing influence of non-EU workers following Brexit.
Since 2019, Nigerian nationals have taken up 279,000 roles, while 488,000 positions have been filled by Indians. In contrast, UK nationals have secured 257,000 new jobs in the same timeframe.
This shift in the labour market has been accompanied by a decline of 242,000 jobs held by EU nationals, marking a significant change in workforce dynamics post-Brexit.
Experts attribute this trend to immigration reforms introduced by the UK government in 2021, which made it easier for employers to hire workers from outside the EU.
The reforms included lowering the salary threshold for non-EU migrants and reducing the required skill level, along with lifting the annual cap on sponsorship certificates.
The changes have particularly benefitted Nigerian and Indian nationals, who have increasingly replaced European workers in various sectors.
Neil O'Brien, a Tory MP who brought these figures to light, emphasized that the surge in non-EU migration is a direct result of the UK's revised immigration rules.
He noted that it is striking how, since the pandemic, more jobs have been filled by Nigerians and Indians than by British nationals.
O'Brien, a frequent critic of the UK's immigration system, also stated that average earnings for non-EU workers have declined, now trailing behind those of UK citizens.
He suggested that the trend should prompt a thorough reassessment of the country's immigration policies, particularly given the strain on housing, infrastructure, and public services.
He argues for attracting high-earning migrants, asserting that the current system is moving in the wrong direction.
In 2022, 155,343 dependents arrived in the UK, nearly triple the number from 2019, with Nigerian nationals accounting for a large share. The data also highlights the significant role of student visas in this trend.
The number of dependants accompanying international students surged before new restrictions were imposed, with Nigerian students alone bringing 60,923 dependants to the UK in 2022.
The proportion of jobs held by non-EU nationals in the UK has risen from seven percent at the end of 2019 to over 11 percent by the end of last year, with the number of jobs held by Nigerian nationals increasing by 206 percent.
"Figures show that Nigerians and Indians have been the top nationalities receiving work visas since the post-Brexit system came into force. But this is likely to be the employment market taking advantage of the labour available," Economist Ben Brindle from Oxford University said.
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