A UK Immigration Experiment

Forbes Magazine had an article recently about how, in 2004, the UK extended an invitation for workers from Poland, the Czech Republic, and 6 other Eastern European countries that are junior members of the European Union.

This is in contrast to full EU countries, such as France and Germany, who banned the workers until their countries get full status.

The result, according to the article, is that, after several years, the benefits have far outweighted any problems.

98% of the immigrants are working, 80% are under 35, and they can't receive any welfare benefits util they have worked at least a year.

500,000 workers came in (another 500,000 have come in to start businesses or be self-employed). The article said that this is a large influx for a nation of 60 million.

The U.S., with a population of 300 million, allowed only 560,000 legal immigrants during the same period. At the rate the UK allowed them in, it would be as if the U.S. gave out 9 times as many green cards.

To put it in more perspective, Ireland, with a population of only 4 million, allowed in 200,000 workers.

An IMF economist who studied this migration says that this influx is not responsible for any job losses. There was some downward pressure on wages, but they felt it was temporary, and consumers benefited.

The article went on to highlight some success stories, such as a specialty fiberglass manufacturer in Leicester, whose business was able to grow. Previously, it was constrained by a shortage of trained machinists.