How many people work and study in the UK?

Keir Starmer says the number of immigrants will be “significantly” reduced under stricter rules proposed by workers.

He said measures in the government's whitepaper (blueprint for future laws) would make the system “controlled, selective and fair.”

How will the numbers change and what are the existing rules?

The proposed changes include:

English tests for all visa applicants and all visa applicants for adults and those with adult dependents generally require degree-level qualifications to apply for a major skilled worker visa rather than an A-level equivalent. Instead of being equivalent to A level, you will need to apply for a major skilled worker visa. Salary thresholds are for overseas graduates. Five years. The BBC understands that the government will apply long term to people already in the UK and new visa applicants. The dedicated visa for social care workers introduced during Covid will be closer to new applicants to employers in June who want to sponsor foreign workers. Asylum to individuals who violate immigration rules or break the law

In an introduction to the white paper, Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government will begin further reforms in the asylum system and border security “in response to irregular and illegal migration” later in the summer.

The ONS figures are of the 1.2 million people who ended up living in the UK in the 12 months until June 2024.

5% (58,000) were British citizens; 10% (116,000) were EU citizens; or about 86% (1 million) from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland (EU+) were non-EU+ citizens.

Of the million non-EU+ citizens who came:

82% (845,000) were working age (16-64 years old) and 17% (179,000) were children (under 16 years old) 8% (84,000) claimed asylum after arriving via normal routes or irregularly arriving.

Among non-EU+ immigrants, the most common nationalities that came to the UK for work-related (116,000) and research-related (127,000) reasons were Indians.

Most people who want to work in the UK will need to apply for a visa via a point-based system (PBS).

However, since April 11, 2024, they have needed jobs at a higher salary.

Applicants must earn at least £38,700. This is an increase of nearly 50% from a minimum of £26,200.

Thresholds do not apply to some jobs, such as national wage scale teachers, such as health and social care.

Home Office statistics showed that 27,000 visas were issued to people who came to the UK to work in health and social care in the 12 months leading up to December 2024.

This is an 81% decline compared to the past 12 months. The number that functioned in this sector had increased significantly after a temporary change to health and care visa rules.

In the year that ended in December 2024, each person who came to work in health and social care had around three dependents.

However, the number of dependents has dropped significantly after the previous conservative government changed rules to stop international social care workers from bringing in children and partners.

The immigration salary list has replaced what was previously called the shortage occupation list.

It helps employers fill vacancy in key sectors.

These jobs have a low pay threshold, making it easier for applicants to earn enough points to obtain a visa.

The list includes:

Employers were able to pay foreign workers 80% of their usual “progression rate” to fill these positions.

However, this low rate has been abolished for those applying after April 4, 2024.

Temporary workers, such as fruit pickers and poultry workers, are eligible for seasonal workers visas, which are covered by the annual quota.

There were 35,561 seasonal worker visas issued by December 2024.

Over three-quarters of these (78%) came from Central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

In 2025, the quota is 45,000.

43,000 horticultural workers 2,000 poultry workers

Seasonal workers can stay in the UK for up to six months for horticultural work and work poultry from October 2nd to December 31st each year.

They cannot accept permanent work or bring in their families.

Before Brexit, EU and UK citizens had the freedom to live, work and study in EU countries without the need for a visa.

However, this freedom of movement ended on January 1, 2021, when the UK left the EU.

For the 12 months ending June 2024, the ONS figures showed that the net transition for non-EU citizens (difference between those who arrive and those who leave) was 845,000.

During the same period, net EU migration was -95,000, meaning 95,000 more EU nationals left the UK than they arrived.

The net migration of British citizens was -21,000. This means that the British left the UK more than they returned.