Highly educated EU migrants flock to UK

The UK now attracts more university-educated European migrants than any other country in the European Union (EU).

A new study by University College London's Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration shows that 62% of migrants from Western Europe who come to Britain have a university degree, compared to 24% of the British labor force.

Meanwhile, 48% of non-EU migrants and 25% of Eastern European migrants arriving in the UK are university-educated.

The report also claims that EU migrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits. This positive overall fiscal contribution amounts to £20bn in the decade to 2011, not including the contribution that EU migrants make to the UK economy through their working lives.

These findings come as the UK continues to debate over its future in the EU, particularly with regard to the free movement of workers from other EU states.

Klaus F. Zimmermann writes about the various benefits of circular migration, which include filling labor shortages, and boosting innovation in labor markets which can lead to overall growth.

Furthermore, Arnaud Chevalier discusses international student mobility, which he says can foster economic growth in both home and host countries, and boost wages for the migrants.

Read more here.

Related articles:
Circular migration, by Klaus F. Zimmermann
How to attract foreign students, by Arnaud Chevalier
Post-enlargement emigration and new EU members’ labor markets, by Anzelika Zaiceva
Freedom of movement for workers, by John Kennan