UK's knowledge economy 'needs more immigrants'

03/06/2008

If the UK is to compete and secure future knowledge-intensive industries it will need more immigrants, a new study has shown.

According to The Work Foundation, there will be increasing demand for 'knowledge workers' around the globe and UK needs to attract more migrants.

"The UK needs to be seen, along with the US, Canada and Australia, as being among the most open and attractive places for highly skilled people to want to move," said Katerina Rudiger, report author.

She found the need for highly qualified workers is difficult to separate from a broader debate on immigration.

Ms Rudiger encouraged politicians to "actively make the case for highly skilled migration".

Her study, Towards a Global Labour Market?, claims a diverse labour force is attractive to international companies that operate in a globalised business environment.

Data from the Home Office showed, in 2007, the main nationalities granted British citizenship were Indian, Filipino, Afghan, South African and Pakistani.

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