As per a comprehensive research, the UK is decisively divided in its positions on the subject of immigration. While younger persons, those residing in the UK capital, besides those who have pursued studies in a university, tend to think of immigration as helpful; the aged, those staying outside London’s territorial limits, & those who are not much educated, tend to view it as unhelpful.
The study adds that a noteworthy increase in the figures of individuals, with not-too-positive approaches to the issue of immigration, has been seen. And, 77% of those studied, even some of the people who actually support immigration, and think it to have been useful to the country, both economically & culturally, wish to see the levels of immigration decreased from its present level.
Social Divide
The director of the study claims that there was a growing social chasm between the London-based, educated select few, who are likely to offer support to immigration; and those who are not very rich, comparatively not very educated, and those who stay in the regions.
In the British capital, 54% of persons have a positive or an exceptionally positive opinion of immigration even while not more than 22% have a not-too-positive opinion. In the nation’s remaining part—even though as much as 51% have a negative opinion–just 28% are positive.
Amongst the graduates, 60% have a positive or an extremely positive viewpoint on immigration, and no more than 22% have a negative view; while among those having no qualifications, and those educated to the level of GCSE only, just 17% have a positive opinion, and close-to 45% have a negative perspective.
Younger Individuals More Upbeat about Immigration
The study finds that, generally speaking, younger persons tend to have a comparatively more positive outlook towards immigration, vis-à-vis the aged. Among those aged more than 70, just 17% of those probed, believed that immigration has had a helpful influence on the national economy while 53% claimed the same had had a not-too-positive impact.
When probed about immigration’s cultural influence, not more than 21% of over 70s believed that the same has had a positive cultural influence while 54% stated the same has had an unhelpful impact.
The study discovered that younger persons were comparatively less negative about the cultural & economic impacts of immigration. For instance, 40% of those probed–who were from 30 to 39–stated that immigration has had an encouraging economic influence, against 43% who declared the same had been not-too-positive.
Cultural Influence
As much as 44% of 30-39 year-olds stated that they think that immigration has had a helpful cultural impact, vis-à-vis 36% who think that the same has had a harmful impact.
The said divide appears to be brought about by an opinion among those who are comparatively less well-educated that the visitors from the Eastern Europe are more likely to get professionally involved with low-trained occupations in retail, catering, & agriculture pushing down salaries for untrained work.
Historic Immigration Levels
The study’s authors put forward that the swell in depressing attitudes to immigration could have been brought about by historic levels of immigration, over the previous 10 years. The text escorting the study findings stated that, during the previous decade, 2.5 million individuals have settled in the country. More than 1 million of these people are from the ex-communist nations of the Eastern Europe.
The findings also revealed that British individuals are not, in general, well informed about the nation’s immigration strategy. For instance, 56% of those studied were ignorant that the country has permit quotas for some specific visa classes. Actually, during 2010, reportedly, the UK started an upper limit of 20,700 on the figure of the Tier 2 (General) Skilled Worker permits that could be proffered per annum. But, the limit has not been touched till date.
