As researchers in the field of international migration, we confront the confusion that surrounds the subject each day. Concepts are unclear. Statistics are often inadequate. Reductionism is rife. Migration becomes “immigration”; immigration and asylum are conflated. There is a foghorn dialogue between the “pro” and “anti” lobbies.
The answer to the question “What is migration?” is not straightforward. Migration is a sub-category of the wider concept “movement,” embracing various types and forms of human mobility from commuting to permanent emigration. We want to throw some light on the scale and characteristics of international migration as it affects the UK. We do not argue any view; we merely set out what is going on, as far as the data allow us.
Migration is the main component of population change in 26 out of 45 European states, including the UK. Economic globalisation, transnationalism and established diaspora communities have increased the circulation of people. New migrations have emerged, many of them short-term, taking advantage of opportunities to exploit niche labour markets. Shortages of skill and manpower at the top and bottom ends of the labour market have increased openness to foreigners. Unrecorded and illegal migrations continue to pose challenges, although there is no hard evidence that their scale is increasing.
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