Over a million foreigners begin working in the UK over past two years

February 08 2010 by Liam Clifford

Statistics show that between July 2007 and June 2009, the UK government handed out 1.3 million National Insurance numbers to foreigners emigrating to the UK.

The Department of Work and Pension figures show that there have been plenty of jobs for people wishing to move to the UK from abroad, despite the recession.

Although the figures have sparked some claims that the government is putting foreign workers first, as UK workers find it more difficult to get jobs, employers claim they need to recruit from elsewhere to fill labour shortages.

Industries like healthcare, construction and transport have taken on plenty of foreign-born workers over recent years. In addition, the government claims that many of the foreigners working in the UK during the stated period have already returned home.

NI numbers are needed in order to work in the UK, but they are also needed in order to study in the UK and to claim benefits here.

Phil Woolas, the UK immigration minister, said, “we recognise the benefit to our economy and culture from immigration.” He added that the new UK points based system helps to control the inflow of immigrants moving to the UK from outside the EU.

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