UK Employment Figures by Country of Birth

The figures below show UK Employment figures by Country of Birth for; the Accession 8 Countries, the United States of America, Africa as a whole (excluding South Africa), South Africa, Australia & New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Accession 8 (A8) Countries

The Accession 8 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) have seen the biggest percentage increase in numbers since 1997 with an overall increase of 1650%. In 1997 the UK was home to 29,250 workers from Eastern Europe and since then the figure has increased to 506,250.

In 2004 the Worker Registration Scheme was set up and between that year and 2005 the number of Easter European workers almost doubled from 88,500 to 171,000. Since then the number increased to 506,250 in 2009 however it is understood that numbers have dropped significantly subsequently, mainly due to the economic downturn.

• Year 1997 – 29,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 – 33,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 – 31,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 – 38,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 – 40,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 – 47,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 – 50,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 – 88,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 – 171,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 – 294,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 – 437,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 – 504,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 – 506,250 workers in UK Employment

United States of America

The number of USA nationals working in the UK increased by 31.75%, from 68,500 in 1997 to 90,250 in 2009. The number peaked in 2006 at 103,250 and then started to fall. The fall may be attributed to the recession which has caused many to return home and the fall of Sterling against the US Dollar, making the UK a less attractive place to work.

• Year 1997 – 68,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 –  73,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 –  72,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 –  76,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 –  80,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 –  78,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 –  85,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 –  81,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 –  87,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 –  103,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 –  99,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 –  90,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 –  90,250 workers in UK Employment

Africa (excluding South Africa)

The number of Africans working in the UK has increased by 79.85% (excluding South Africans) since 1997. Although not as staggering a percentage increase as the one relating to Eastern European Workers the overall number of individuals working in the UK has increased by 246,750. There are more African workers currently in the UK than Eastern European Workers.

• Year 1997 – 309,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 – 329,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 – 344,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 – 354,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 – 379,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 – 401,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 – 432,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 – 451,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 – 487,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 – 528,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 – 543,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 – 578,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 – 555,750 workers in UK Employment

South Africa

In 2008 the Working Holidaymaker scheme was replaced by Tier 5 (Youth Mobility). Under the old scheme South African nationals aged 18 – 30 could come to the UK to work for a period of up to 2 years. However, when Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) was introduced back in 2008 South African nationals were excluded, mainly due to the lack of a reciprocal scheme.

Overall, the number of South African workers in the UK increased from 57,250 in 1997 to 147,250 in 2009, a 157.21% increase. However, since 2008 the number of South African workers has been falling with big decreases forecasted in 2010 and 2011.

• Year 1997 – 57,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 – 63,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 – 73,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 – 80,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 – 91,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 – 100,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 – 129,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 – 129,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 – 133,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 – 141,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 – 137,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 – 155,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 – 147,250 workers in UK Employment

Australia and New Zealand

The number of Australian and New Zealand nationals working in the UK has increased by 65.30%, from 79,250 in 1997 to 131,000 in 2009. In recent years this steady increase has ground to a halt and is now falling. This may be due to the economic downturn and the higher maintenance requirement placed on Tier 5 visa holders.

• Year 1997 – 79,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 – 81,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 – 98,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 – 111,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 – 104,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 – 122,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 –  122,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 –  126,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 –  132,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 –  134,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 –  133,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 –  130,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 –  131,000 workers in UK Employment

India

The number of Indian workers increased from 203,500 in 1997 to 348,750 in 2009, a 71.38% increase.

• Year 1997 – 203,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 – 218,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 – 207,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 – 207,750  workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 – 203,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 – 222,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 – 232,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 – 248,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 – 279,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 – 324,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 – 313,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 – 338,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 – 348,750 workers in UK Employment

Pakistan and Bangladesh

The number of Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers increased from 120,500 in 1997 to 250,500 in 2009, a 107.88% increase.

• Year 1997 – 120,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1998 – 118,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 1999 – 145,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2000 – 156,000 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2001 – 163,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2002 – 167,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2003 – 171,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2004 – 192,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2005 – 178,750 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2006 – 202,250 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2007 – 239,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2008 – 250,500 workers in UK Employment
• Year 2009 – 250,500 workers in UK Employment

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing Tier 1 Visa Applications / Extensions and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a Medical, Information Technology or Engineering Professional on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit).

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your details now and we will get right back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.