Nett Migration, Unemployment and the Work Inactive in Numbers
Nett Migration, Unemployment and the Work Inactive in Numbers
After figures last week revealed by the Office of National Statistics showed that net migration to the UK hit a record 750,000 in the year 2022, our PM Rishi Sunak has been under pressure from his own party to act. This is seen as a drastic failure of his own policy to cut migration to the UK and the now sacked Suella Braverman claimed the figures were a "slap in the face to the British public" stating that she had pushed for more stringent immigration policies and lays the blame on the PM's office for not implementing. Despite the Government's focus (including the media) on trying to control the "irregular small boat migration" of people looking for asylum in the UK, the bulk of the net numbers are made up of legal migration through government approved channels - this includes long term students / graduates and work permits, particularly in the health and care sector.
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Why the numbers simply don't stack up: The net migration reflects an annual UK population increase of around 1%, primarily of work aged people who will contribute towards our economy as well as fill essential and vacant jobs. However, the feedback from employers is that they continue to struggle to recruit staff - despite our flatlining economy and historically low unemployment numbers (at around?4%) and the increase in the number of work age?migrants. The unemployment?numbers are simply a percentage of our work ready population actively looking for work - but they don't show the real picture. Digging into the government's own figures reveal that we have over?22%?of our work age population (aged between 16 and 64) who are classed as economically inactive (and not unemployed). That is almost 9 million people of working age that are not working, not looking for work and not in higher education. We currently have 33 million in full time work, 1.5m unemployed and 9m inactive - i.e.1 in 4 (excluding students) work age people in the UK are simply not working. Digging into the figures further reveals shockingly that South Asians (primarily of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin) are the largest percentage (over 33% of their work aged population) who are inactive in the UK. As someone who?has always championed Asian business's higher than average contribution towards the GB economy, it is only right that we are critical of areas where we under perform. The high inactivity levels of our own community goes against everything our 1st generation believed in when they made their perilous economic migration to the UK?looking for work. As a community, it's important we look into the reasons as to why so many of us are work inactive, whilst at the same time the government must wake up to this "huge waste in human potential" rather than constantly looking for solutions from abroad to fill employment vacancies.
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At YABA?we have always championed diversity and religious unity - and used our religious?festivals to bring together our business communities. This week the Sikhs and Hindus celebrated the birth anniversary of GURU NANAK DEV Ji - the founder and 1st Guru of the Sikh faith. He was born in 1469 in the city of Nankana Sahib (now located in modern day Pakistan) to Hindu parents during difficult and turbulent times in North India where political tyranny, religious fanaticism and persecution was the norm. He was not only the founder of the Sikh faith but was a great poet, an eminent philosopher, a pure humanist, and a leading reformer - and was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. His teachings (Guru is teacher and Sikh is learner) was followed by all irrespective of their caste, culture or religion and his message of ONENESS (One is a most important symbol in Sikhism), SARBAT Ka BHALLA (wellbeing of all), EQUALITY and HONEST LIVING, GURU KA LANGAR (free community kitchen) and SELFLESS SERVICE to humanity are as important today as they were during his time. Sikh Temples (Gurudwaras) all over the world are open to people of all faiths and religions and serve free langar (full meal) to all that come through their doors. HARMANDIR SAHIB (Golden Temple - Sikh's holiest shrine) in Amritsar India serve over 100,000 free meals a day, nonstop every day to attendees of all faiths (inc atheists) irrespective of their caste, creed, or culture.?
Amarjit Singh Chairman - YABA
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