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The Impact of Immigration on the UK Labour Market

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Dustmann

    (Department of Economics and Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM), University College London)

  • Francesca Fabbri

    (Department of Economics, University of Munich)

  • Ian Preston

    (Department of Economics and Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM), University College London)

Abstract

This paper provides an empirical investigation of the way immigration affects labour market outcomes of native born workers in the UK, set beside a theoretical discussion of the underlying economic mechanisms. We discuss the problems that may arise in empirical estimations, and suggest ways to address these problems. Our empirical analysis is based on data from the British Labour Force Survey. We show that the overall skill distribution of Britain's immigrant workforce is remarkably similar to that of the native born workforce. We investigate the impact of immigration on employment, participation, unemployment and wages of the resident population. We find no evidence that immigration has overall effects on any of these outcomes at the aggregate level. There is some evidence that effects are different for different educational groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Dustmann & Francesca Fabbri & Ian Preston, 2005. "The Impact of Immigration on the UK Labour Market," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 0501, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    • Handle: RePEc:crm:wpaper:0501
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    7. Card, David, 2001. "Immigrant Inflows, Native Outflows, and the Local Labor Market Impacts of Higher Immigration," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 19(1), pages 22-64, January.
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    Keywords

    Migration; Survey; Attitudes;
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