Between 2019 and 2023, Indian and Nigerian nationals emerged as the leading foreign workers in the UK, surpassing British citizens. Employment among EU nationals dropped significantly. Nigerians, notably in healthcare, saw a surge in job opportunities due to post-Brexit migration policies, despite the recent tightening of visa rules.
Between 2019 and 2023, Indian and Nigerian nationals emerged as the top foreign workers in the United Kingdom, surpassing British citizens in employment figures, according to data from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This period saw a significant drop of 241,600 jobs held by European Union nationals, highlighting a major shift in the UK's workforce composition.
The UK National Health Service (NHS), the country’s largest employer, is a notable example of this trend. An earlier report from BusinessDay reveals that Nigerians are among the top five nationalities employed by the NHS, with approximately 10,494 Nigerians working there. This places Nigeria just behind Poland, which has 10,520 Polish health workers.
The figures, acquired through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, show a notable increase in employment among Indian nationals by 487,900 and Nigerian nationals by 278,700 from December 2019 to December 2023. During the same period, UK nationals saw an increase of 257,000 jobs. Out of 1.481 million new jobs created, 1.465 million were filled by non-EU nationals.
Tory MP Neil O’Brien, who requested the data, attributed these changes to Britain’s post-Brexit migration policies, which have reshaped the job market. The BBC reports a fourfold increase in UK work visas granted to Nigerians since 2019. This surge reflects a growing trend of skilled Nigerian professionals moving to the UK, particularly in healthcare, driven by better opportunities and living conditions. However, the UK has responded with stricter visa regulations for both workers and students.
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