Revealed: Brexit voting areas have seen faster growth in foreign workers since EU referendum
Guardian investigation also finds same areas experienced relative decline over same period
TL;DR
- Leave-voting areas have seen faster relative growth in foreign workers since the Brexit referendum.
- These same areas have also become relatively more deprived over the same period.
- Migration increased across the UK, especially via health and care visas, but Leave-voting areas saw faster relative growth in their foreign workforce.
- Remain-voting areas, often larger cities, still have the largest numbers of non-UK workers but have seen slower relative growth.
- Strongest Remain-voting seats experienced the largest improvements in deprivation, while Brexit-voting areas became relatively more deprived.
- The trends of increased foreign workers and increased deprivation in Leave-voting areas are not presented as direct cause and effect.
- Wider research suggests immigration has had limited effects on the wages and employment prospects of UK-born workers.