Migration - Meeting Scotland's Needs

Securing a Migration System which delivers for Scotland’s economy, public services, and communities

38. Scotland has distinct demographic and geographical needs. The immigration system is not meeting those distinct needs.

39. The Scottish Government is committed to:

• Supporting employers and investors to navigate the current UK immigration system;
• Arguing for change to the UK immigration rules; and
• Making the case for tailored migration routes for Scotland.

Supporting Employers

40. The Scottish Government has launched Scotland’s Migration Service to support investors and help employers recruit skilled international workers. The Service helps to attract and retain international talent to Scotland. In addition to employers, the Service also provides advice and support to international students who want to stay in Scotland, as well as prospective migrants who have a job offer or are eligible to come to Scotland through the Family Visa.

41. There are significant benefits to the Scottish economy in recruiting and retaining skilled international workers. In addition to the direct positive impact for their employer a taxpayer in Scotland on £38,700 (the minimum salary for someone on a Skilled Worker Visa since April 2024) generates £5,310 in non-savings, non-divided Income Tax, supporting the Scottish Budget.

Making an Evidence-Based Case for Change

42. Scotland’s Migration Service is focused on supporting individuals and employers to navigate the current UK immigration system. However, there is clear evidence that we also need changes to the current immigration system. We know that it is expensive, bureaucratic, and too tightly focused on a prospective migrant’s ability to pay rather than the needs of our economy and public services.

43. We know that the current immigration system already has a geographic bias. In relation to work visas London and the south-east of England attracts disproportionately more skilled workers than the rest of the UK. Analysis by the Migration Observatory found that between 2016-2020 44% of skilled workers with certificates of sponsorship went to London.^[14] The Migration Observatory also noted that around 47% of all foreign born residents in the UK lived in London and the South East of England at the time of the 2021/22 Census.^[15]

44. The immigration system is in a constant process of change which creates uncertainty and confusion for the individuals, businesses, and institutions which rely on it. The Scottish Government will establish a series of partnership discussions with key sectors to identify how the design of the immigration system creates barriers to growth and the delivery of a high performing economy and sustainable public services. The findings of these discussions will be used to make the case that the immigration system requires significant change to support public services, communities, and the economy.