Economic migration

A term increasingly used as a result of the accession of new countries to the European Union. It describes the reasoning behind the movement of people from one area or country to another based on finding improved employment, education or housing opportunities.

Further information

The Impact of Free Movement of Workers from Central and Eastern Europe on the UK Labour Market (pdf) describes the key features of migration to the UK since accession and evaluates the impact of migration flows from these new EU Member States on the UK labour market.

Employers' use of migrant labour (pdf) from the Institute for Employment Studies was commissioned by the Home Office and explores the recruitment and employment of migrant workers in the UK.

This webpage on the points-based system provides key documents on the changes to the immigration system. 

» Border & Immigration Agency